Game 1: BLACKHAWKS at BLUES
Western Conference First Round
TV: 9:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN360, TVA Sports, CSN-CH, FS-MW
It took St. Louis Blues coach Ken Hitchcock less than 30 seconds Tuesday to sum up how the Blues and Chicago Blackhawks feel about playing each other again in the Western Conference First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
After watching a full practice that included the return of captain David Backes from a lower-body injury, Hitchcock kept his press conference short and to the point. He said it was good to see so many healthy players back on the ice and that he looked forward to making tough lineup decisions.
After confirming that everyone is available to play, Hitchcock abruptly ended the session.
"We're ready to go," he said. "So, let's play. Thanks."
The Blackhawks, who eliminated the Blues from in 2014 by winning their first-round series in six games, weren't as succinct with their thoughts. But their sentiments were the same: The defending Stanley Cup champions are ready to drop the puck.
"I'm excited," Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. "It's a long time between getting a chance to try to win a Cup and then trying to get back to the playoffs. But I always find that this is an exciting time of the year, and you're looking and thinking, 'OK, here we go.' I'm excited about it. I get nervous for Game 1, like I do the first game of the season and then we get going again, but [I'm] looking forward to it."
The Blackhawks have arguably the best line in the NHL: left wing Artemi Panarin, center Artem Anisimov and right wing Patrick Kane, who won the scoring title with 106 points. The Blues have what appears to be the kind of defense and goaltending to handle them.
Chicago's special teams, especially its power play, could be key. St. Louis' puck-possession game could help them advance.
St. Louis has strong goaltending options: Brian Elliott, who will start Game 1, and Jake Allen. Corey Crawford is coming off a lengthy upper-body injury for Chicago; he allowed five goals in the final regular-season game after missing 11 games.
There's also a lot of history between these Central Division rivals, which will ramp up the intensity from start to finish.
Blackhawks team scope: Forward Andrew Ladd and rookie Viktor Svedberg returned to practice Tuesday and will play. Each took a maintenance day Monday. Chicago, which dealt with multiple injuries in the final month, heads into the series with a full roster. Forwards Marian Hossa (lower body), Andrew Shaw (upper body), Anisimov (upper body) and Crawford (upper body) will play; Defenseman Duncan Keith will not play while serving the final game of a six-game suspension for a high-sticking incident. The Blackhawks recalled defenseman David Rundblad from Rockford of the American Hockey League on Monday and reassigned forwards Bryan Bickell and Dennis Rasmussen to Rockford. Rundblad, who was loaned to a team in Switzerland earlier this season, practiced Tuesday. He's not likely to play Game 1, but made a good impression on Quenneville. "[Defensive] depth, you start with that," Quenneville said. "He looked really good in practice today. They've been playing him 25 minutes [a game] in the [AHL] and he's come back with a good attitude. I thought he enhanced himself with how he looked and fit in today." Forwards Richard Panik and Dale Weise will likely be scratched.
Blues team scope: St. Louis has also healed up. The Blues had their full allotment of players at practice Tuesday, including Backes and forward Troy Brouwer, who had a maintenance day Monday and didn't practice. Their return came one day after Allen (lower body) and forward Steve Ott (colitis, hamstrings) returned to practice. Ott is supposed to be out for another week, but Allen is ready and will back up Elliott in Game 1. "This is the first time since the middle of the summer that we've had everybody available to us as a team, and that's impeccable timing because this is when you want all of your weapons on hand, and we have that," Backes said. "We'll have plenty of depth and ability to go and do whatever we need to with all the people available for the first time." Backes will play on a line with Alexander Steen and Patrik Berglund. Allen's injury opened the door for Elliott to start the playoffs as St. Louis' top goaltender, but Elliott's play is what ultimately earned him the opportunity. He finished the season 23-8-6 with four shutouts, a 2.07 goals-against average (tied for second in the NHL) and .930 save percentage.
Your pregame music (lyrics NSFW)ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Apparently, Ken Hitchcock is talked out about the Chicago Blackhawks.
The St. Louis Blues coach cut his news conference short Tuesday a day ahead of the team's first-round playoff matchup against the team that has won three Stanley Cups the last six seasons, including last year.
Hitchcock said his team was at full strength for the first time all season and that it was nice to have choices heading into Game 1 at home on Wednesday night. And that was it.
''So, let's play,'' Hitchcock said, adding ''thanks'' as he left the interview room to stunned silence.
There hasn't been a repeat Stanley Cup champion since 1998, and the Blackhawks will be opening on the road against a team that won the season series 3-2.
''We know it's not going to be easy,'' Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. ''We're facing as good a team as there is in the league right out of the gate. We've got to be at our best.''
The Blues finished second overall in the Western Conference with 107 points, four more than Chicago. They're the No. 3 playoff seed after overcoming long-term injuries to both goalies as well as forwards Patrik Berglund, Jaden Schwartz, Paul Stastny and Alexander Steen.
Captain David Backes made up for Hitchcock's brevity. The top-line forward and goalie Jake Allen are both ready to go after missing the final week of the regular season with lower-body injuries.
''You get the adrenaline running, you can play through a lot of stuff,'' Backes said. ''We're a go.''
Now comes the hard part. The Blues have been eliminated in the first round three straight years, including 2014 when they were ahead 2-0 and then lost four straight to the Blackhawks.
Things to watch for when these two rivals open up what will likely be a bruising series:
REVISITING 2014: The Blues also finished second in the Central two years ago and had home-ice advantage against the Blackhawks. They opened with a pair of overtime victories but the Blackhawks won the next four, two of them in overtime, in a very physical series. Chicago defenseman Brent Seabrook was suspended for three games for a hit that sidelined Backes for two games. Duncan Keith had a goal and three assists in the series clincher.
''We don't want to start the same way but knowing that we've been in tough situations before we're going forward with confidence that we can get ourselves out of anything,'' Chicago captain Jonathan Toews said.
MAN DOWN: Like Hitchcock, Quenneville should have options with Andrew Shaw ready for the first time since April 1 and Marian Hossa back after missing the regular-season finale. Keith will miss Game 1, however, finishing a six-game suspension for high-sticking Minnesota's Charlie Coyle.
GOALIE PICTURE: The Blues' Brian Elliott was dominant down the stretch posting three consecutive shutouts in mid-March. He gets the call in Game 1 although Hitchcock has made it clear Allen could see playing time. Corey Crawford is back for Chicago after missing a month with an upper-body injury, returning for the season finale. Crawford had a 1.98 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage in the Blues series in 2014.
BIG STICKS: The Blues have two players to stalk. Patrick Kane is the first American to win the Art Ross Trophy as the league's leading scorer and Toews has a long track record of clutch play. ''It was always kind of a dream of mine as an offensive player, to be able to lead the league in scoring,'' Kane said. ''Hopefully, it doesn't stop now.''
The Blackhawks must account for Vladimir Tarasenko, who led a so-so offense with a career-best 40 goals and has one of the league's quickest releases.
WIN OR ELSE?: Most of the core remains from the Blues' prior playoff failures, including Hitchcock. Players realize this could be their last chance, but also perhaps their best chance at making a deep run.
''We have all the pieces of the puzzle falling in place, which is great,'' defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk said. ''We still have to go out there and do it.''
Your pregame motivational speech
