815-561-8255 Request Line
Watch LIVE High School Sports

Upcoming Events

Saturday, Mar 30, 8:00 AM
Saturday, Mar 30, 10:45 AM
Saturday, Mar 30, 1:45 PM
Saturday, Mar 30, 8:00 PM
Sunday, Mar 31, 8:00 AM

Social Media

Find us on Facebook Follow us on X















Blackhawks begin their playoff run tonight in St. Louis

Apparently, Ken Hitchcock is talked out about the
Chicago Blackhawks.

The St. Louis Blues coach cut his news conference short 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.''

Comments

Download the App Today!

Download the Apple app today
Download the Google Play app today
Closings and Cancellations
Copyright © 2024 Superhits 93.5. All Rights Reserved.
Public File
FCC Applications
Site by RiverBender.com