Preview: Blackhawks at Blues

BLACKHAWKS (20-8-4) at BLUES (17-10-4)
8 p.m. ET; FS-MW, CSN-CH, NHL.TV

Blackhawks team scope

The Chicago Blackhawks look for their fourth straight win when they end a three-game road trip against the St. Louis Blues. Chicago, 6-2-1 in its past nine games, will make left wing Tyler Motte a healthy scratch for a second straight game. Since missing five games with a lower-body injury, Motte has gone 14 games without a point. "Up front, we're likely to go with the same group," coach Joel Quenneville said. "... [Motte's] got some pace to his game, he's got some ability both side of the puck. He had some production prior to his injury there and he's slowed down in that area. We have back-to-back games, likely in tomorrow so we'll look to see him get some progression in his game." Goalie Scott Darling will make his eighth consecutive start since Corey Crawford was sidelined following an appendectomy on Dec. 3. Darling is 4-0-1 in his past five starts after losing two straight.

Blues team scope

The Blues and Blackhawks will play for the final time Saturday before the 2017 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic, but St. Louis is not looking ahead to playing in their first outdoor game. They have three games in four days and four in six leading up to the Christmas break. "There's too many games between now and the Winter Classic," left wing Jaden Schwartz said. "We're obviously all excited, we're all looking forward to it, but we play like every second day so you've got to focus on each game and each day. We'll get to that point. We'll have a few days before we soak it in, but these are big points right now and it's obviously a big division game and we want to try and catch [Chicago]. It shouldn't be an issue focusing on [tonight]." Blues defenseman Carl Gunnarsson, who's healthy, could return. Hitchcock said Gunnarsson will play either Saturday or Monday against the Edmonton Oilers. Goalie Jake Allen, who is 11-0-2 at home with an eight-game winning streak at Scottrade Center, will start. The Blues, 6-3-1 their past 10 games, will put a 14-game home point streak (11-0-3) on the line; they're 13-1-3 overall at Scottrade Center.

Blackhawks projected lineup

Ryan Hartman -- Jonathan Toews -- Marian Hossa
Artemi Panarin -- Artem Anisimov -- Patrick Kane
Dennis Rasmussen -- Marcus Kruger -- Richard Panik
Andrew Desjardins -- Vinnie Hinostroza -- Jordin Tootoo
Duncan Keith -- Niklas Hjalmarsson
Brian Campbell -- Brent Seabrook
Michal Kempny -- Trevor van Riemsdyk
Scott Darling
Lars Johansson
Scratched:Tyler Motte, Michal Rozsival, Gustav Forsling
Injured:Corey Crawford (appendectomy)

Blues projected lineup

Jaden Schwartz -- Paul Stastny -- Nail Yakupov
Robby Fabbri -- Jori Lehtera -- Vladimir Tarasenko
Alexander Steen -- Patrik Berglund -- David Perron
Scottie Upshall -- Kyle Brodziak -- Ryan Reaves
Joel Edmundson -- Alex Pietrangelo
Carl Gunnarsson -- Kevin Shattenkirk
Jay Bouwmeester -- Colton Parayko
Jake Allen
Carter Hutton
Scratched:Dmitrij Jaskin, Ty Rattie, Brad Hunt
Injured:Robert Bortuzzo (lower body)

Status report

Tootoo will remain in the lineup with Motte out; he's playing for the sixth time in seven games after being a healthy scratch six of the previous eight. ... If Gunnarsson returns, Hunt will come out of the lineup. Hunt has four points in four games since being recalled from Chicago of the American Hockey League. Fabbri and Reaves will each play after missing practice on Friday.

Who's hot

Panarin has three goals and three assists during a three-game point streak. ... Anisimov had three goals and one assist in a three-game point streak. ... Hossa has four goals in the past five games. ... Tarasenko has 10 points (two goals, eight assists) during a five-game point streak. ... Fabbri has six points (three goals, three assists) in the past five games.