The Matchup: Blues at Blackhawks

CHICAGO - The final playoff spot in the Western Conference is still up for grabs, and one team - either the St. Louis Blues or the Colorado Avalanche - will get it.

The Blues would win the spot outright with two regulation wins in their final two regular-season games, but thanks to a 4-2 victory by the San Jose Sharks over the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday, the Blues' game on Friday in Chicago isn't even a must-win!
Click here to see the scenarios
in which the Blues could secure a playoff spot on Saturday in Colorado.
But before we get to the game against the Avalanche, here's a preview of Friday's game against the Blackhawks (7:30 p.m., FSMW, FSGO, KMOX) at United Center.

BLUES VS. BLACKHAWKS

• The Blues are 2-1-0 against the Blackhawks this season.
  - St. Louis has points in seven of their last 10 games against Chicago and is 5-2-0 in the last seven trips to United Center.
  - Friday's matchup marks the 310th all-time regular season meeting between the clubs, the most against any one opponent for the Blues.
  - Carter Hutton will make his first start since March 3. Hutton suffered a neck injury on March 8 in San Jose and has appeared in just one game since. Ville Husso, who was recalled Thursday, will serve as the backup.

HOT VS. BLACKHAWKS

• Vladimir Tarasenko has more goals against the Blackhawks than any other player in the League since the start of the 2014-15 season. Tarasenko has 16 goals in 22 games. Vegas' James Neal (11 goals in 26 games) and Nashville's Filip Forsberg (11 goals in 27 games) are in second and third, respectively.
  - Tarasenko has 18 points in his last 13 games against the Blackhawks (12 goals, 6 assists)
  - Patrik Berglund has 5 points in his last 5 games against Chicago.
  - Alex Pietrangelo has 9 points in his last 9 games against the Blackhawks (four goals, five assists)
  - Alexander Steen has 11 points in his last 12 games (4 goals, 7 assists)
  - Brayden Schenn has 6 points in his last 6 games against Chicago (3 goals, 3 assists)

BLUE NOTES

• As the head coach of the Minnesota Wild, Mike Yeo faced a must-win situation in the final game of the regular season against the Colorado Avalanche in 2013. Yeo and the Wild won the game - in the second night of back-to-backs - to clinch a spot in the postseason.
  - Robert Bortuzzo scored his fourth goal of the season on Wednesday against the Blackhawks, setting a new career high.
  - Schenn has set new career highs in goals (27), assists (40) and points (67) this season.
  - Pietrangelo is expected to play in his 616th career game on Friday, tying Bob Plager for second on the Blues' all-time games played list among defensemen. Pietrangelo has set new career highs in goals (15) and points (53).

THIS DAY IN BLUES HISTORY

On April 6, 1988, rookie Brett Hull scored twice in his first Stanley Cup Playoff game with the Blues, helping the club to a 4-1 win against the Blackhawks in the Norris Division Semifinals.