A potent offense has the St. Louis Blues on an impressive roll despite the absence of some key contributors. The exact same thing can be said of the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Central Division rivals are on a potential collision course for a postseason matchup, and that could move closer to reality Thursday night when the teams meet at the United Center.
As the season enters the final few days, there is still plenty left to be determined in the Western Conference. St. Louis (48-23-9) and Dallas are tied for the Central lead and Chicago trails by four points. Finishing as the top seed would give the Blues a first-round matchup with Minnesota, while a second-place finish in the division would send them into a series with the Blackhawks.
"We have a lot at stake right now," Blues goaltender Brian Elliott said. "It's funny how it always comes down to the last games no matter what."
Outside of Pittsburgh, which has won 13 of 14, no teams appear more formidable right now than St. Louis and Chicago (47-26-7).
The Blues have won seven of eight, averaging 3.75 goals with five in each of the last three games. Kyle Brodziak scored two of their five unanswered in a 5-2 victory over Arizona on Monday.
"I think we just weren't as sharp as we needed to be and sometimes that happens (when) you come home late," Brodziak said. "I thought the energy in the room after the first was really, really good and we got ourselves re-focused."
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Elliott continued his stellar run with 25 saves and improved to 12-1-1 with a 1.74 goals-against average and four shutouts since the All-Star break. He'll need to carry the load in net with backup Jake Allen (lower body) out for the rest of the regular season.
Also sidelined for the final two games is captain David Backes (lower body), second on the team with 21 goals and fourth with 45 points.
St. Louis will get absolutely no sympathy from Chicago, which is currently without goaltender Corey Crawford, forwards Marian Hossa (lower body), Andrew Shaw (upper body) and Artem Anisimov, and star defenseman Duncan Keith (suspension).
Anisimov left in the second period of Tuesday's 6-2 win over the Coyotes after taking a bit hit from Antoine Vermette.
"We'll know more tomorrow, but we'll say day to day, upper body, he should be OK," coach Joel Quenneville said.
The loss of Anisimov, who centers a high-scoring line with Patrick Kane and Artemi Panarin, would be a big one, but the Blackhawks have managed to win five of six despite those absences. Their offense has somehow been better lately, totaling 17 goals during a three-game win streak with help from a power play that's 6 for 12 after an 0-for-26 drought.
Jonathan Toews has two goals and five assists during a five-game point streak.
"We want to get our game together and play the complete game that we're going to need in the playoffs, but at the same time, it's a lot easier to play at the highest level when the playoffs come around and that motivation's right there in front of your face," Toews said.
Chicago's captain is far from the only Blackhawks player that will take a hot streak into this contest. Panarin has 10 points in his last three games to give him 75 on the season.
Kane, the league leader with 102 points, has five goals and three assists in the team's three-game run.
Scott Darling is expected to make his 11th straight start and first against St. Louis. He's 5-1-0 with a 2.67 GAA in the last six.
Elliott has not fared well against Chicago, going 1-3-0 with a 3.32 GAA in his past five starts.
The Blackhawks are 2-0-2 against the Blues this season, losing the last in a six-round shootout March 9 in St. Louis.
