Break coming at right time for Blues, Blackhawks

BLUES (28-15-8) at BLACKHAWKS (32-15-4)
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CHICAGO -- The St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks are looking forward to the end of a tough grind in their respective schedules heading into their game at United Center on Sunday.
Outside of morning skates, each team has only practiced once in January and conducted a handful of off-day practices since Christmas break. Prior to puck drop on the third installment of their season series, they're tied for the most games played in the NHL to date (51).

"We're so fortunate we've got good veteran players that can carry the day without practicing, but we've got a list that's three pages long of things that we want to work on," St. Louis coach Ken Hitchcock said after the morning skate. "I'm sure Chicago does [too], but you can't work on it. You've got to decide whether you're going to have energy or structure with no energy. So, we've opted for energy, just as the Hawks have. So, you just kind of close your eyes and hope like heck you've got better energy at the end of the day."
The Blackhawks' energy lagged in their past two games. After winning a franchise-record 12 straight games, they were swept in back-to-back road games Thursday and Friday at the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers, losing by a combined margin of 6-1.
Chicago has two games left before getting five days off for the All-Star break.
"I think the scheduling's kind of good for us," left wing Andrew Shaw said after the morning skate. "We've got to get this grind out of the way and then get rest. Play hard those last games [of the regular season], going into [the Stanley Cup Playoffs] and take the momentum with us."
Captain Jonathan Toews and defenseman Duncan Keith will play Sunday despite not participating in the morning skate. They stayed off the ice for extra rest, according to coach Joel Quenneville.
"I think both teams are in the same place," Quenneville said. "We've played a real busy month here. There's some time off down the road, but it's an important game for both teams. It'll be a real good challenge [to] see how we bounce back after these two tough losses."
Captain David Backes will play his 700th career NHL game for the Blues, who will get eight days off afterward. St. Louis could get a couple injured players back in the lineup when the season resumes after the All-Star break, but Hitchcock is just as eager for some increased practice time.
"We're both lucky that we get a lot of rest in the second half and we'll have some actual hockey practices that we can get better at," Hitchcock said. "I don't think you can get better just playing games. There's so many things that both teams need to work on, that you at least need 30 minutes on the ice, once or twice a week, to get it done. So, I'm looking forward to that too."
Corey Crawford will start in net for the Blackhawks. Brian Elliott is expected to make his eighth straight start for the Blues.
Crawford will return to the net after getting a game off against the Panthers. Elliott has started every game since Jake Allen was injured Jan. 8, going 5-1-1 with a 1.86 goals-against average and .944 save percentage during that stretch.
Here are the projected lineups:
BLUES
Alexander Steen - Paul Stastny - Troy Brouwer
Robby Fabbri - Jori Lehtera - Vladimir Tarasenko
Patrik Berglund - David Backes - Ty Rattie
Scottie Upshall - Kyle Brodziak - Dmitrij Jaskin
Jay Bouwmeester - Alex Pietrangelo
Carl Gunnarsson - Kevin Shattenkirk
Joel Edmundson - Colton Parayko
Brian Elliott
Jordan Binnington
Injured: Steve Ott (hamstring), Jaden Schwartz (ankle fracture), Jake Allen (lower body), Magnus Paajarvi (upper body)
Scratched: Robert Bortuzzo, Ryan Reaves
BLACKHAWKS
Andrew Shaw - Jonathan Toews - Marian Hossa
Artemi Panarin - Artem Anisimov - Patrick Kane
Andrew Desjardins - Phillip Danault - Teuvo Teravainen
Richard Panik - Dennis Rasmussen - Brandon Mashinter
Niklas Hjalmarsson - Duncan Keith
Erik Gustafsson - Brent Seabrook
Trevor van Riemsdyk - Michal Rozsival
Corey Crawford
Scott Darling
Injured: Marcus Kruger (wrist fracture)
Scratched: Jiri Sekac, Rob Scuderi
Status report: Shaw will play despite losing two teeth and needing 18 stitches in his lower lip after being hit with the puck on the bench against the Panthers on Friday. ... Schwartz continues to skate with the Blues and continues to make progress in his recovery. ... Darling has allowed three or more goals in four of his past six starts, but Quenneville said there hasn't been discussion of sending him to the American Hockey League for more playing time. ... Sekac filled in for Toews during line rushes and will likely be scratched in his second game since being acquired by Chicago in a trade with the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday.
Who's hot: Crawford is 8-1-0 with a 1.55 goals-against average and .955 save percentage in his past nine starts. ... Rattie has three goals in his past five games for the Blues.