Preview Blues at Blackhawks: Hair Of The Dog

Tonight the Blues make the short trip to Chicago to take on the Blackhawks. Puck drops at 6:30 CT and will be televised on NBC Sports Network.

Both the Blues and Blackhawks enter tonight’s game having just played the night before in what is apparently the NHL’s idea of “fair scheduling”. Instead of making sure that both divisional rivals have an adequate time to rest coming into this nationally televised game let’s just make sure that both teams are equally exhausted. Brilliant!

However, instead of these two teams battling for the divisional title we are about to watch two franchises try not to suck as bad as the other one.

The Blues are coming of an O.T. win against the New York Rangers that really, really shouldn’t have taken overtime to secure the win. The Blues still trail the Avalanche, Ducks and Stars (who all play today) by three points for the finally wild card spot.

Vladimir Tarasenko left the game Saturday night with what was called an upper body injury and did not make a return which leaves his status for tonight’s game a bit of a mystery. And really, the Blues shouldn’t need their star winger to secure two points against the worst team in the Central division *giggle snort* buuuuut yeah, the really probably do.

Jake Allen has been more than satisfactory in his last four starts and, after a brilliant performance in overtime and Carter Hutton still on the mend, should get the nod again tonight.

As for the team with the culturally offensive logo, the end is nigh. The Blackhawks have battled hard this season and have been able to secure the last spot in the Central, 13 points behind the second to last place Blues.

Corey Crawford has thrown in the towel and called it a season. Jonathan Toews sucks. Patrick Kane sucks (allegedly). Brent Seabrook sucks and makes almost 7 million dollars a year for the next 6 years. Most Blackhawks fans currently identify as Cubs fans.

Absolutely no reason the Blues shouldn’t walk out of the United Center tonight with two points in the bag. However, knowing this team, they will probably lose 4-0.

Enjoy the game. At least there is still Blues hockey in our lives for a little while longer.