Blues-Blackhawks preview

CHICAGO, Ill. - The last time the St. Louis Blues were in Chicago, their season ended.

They held a 2-0 series lead on the Blackhawks in the opening round of last season's playoff before their hated rivals stacked up four straight victories, including a 5-1 decision in the clinching contest in Chicago.

The 2014 campaign finds both sides contending again, as the Blues hold the second position in the Central Division, directly above the Chicago Blackhawks.

Both come into the night off victories, the Blues a 3-2 shootout decision at Minnesota and Chicago a 4-1 triumph at the Los Angeles Kings.

St. Louis (16-6-2) boasts the 5th-best power-play in hockey, converting 23 percent of their chances with the extra man. Their 19 power-play goals are good for 5th-most in the game.

They will face the best penalty-kill in hockey in the Blackhawks (.931), however, who have allowed only 6 goals a man down this season, also the best in the league, including a five game stretch with eleven straight kills.

The visiting Blues will feature 42-year-old Martin Brodeur in net as the all-time winningest goalie sits in relief of Brian Elliott, sitting out with a lower body injury sustained Nov. 25th against Ottawa. Elliott previously held the league's best goals-against average (1.82).

Brodeur inked a one-year deal with the Blues this week after joining the club for a few days' practice and professional tryout.

He holds all-time NHL records with 688 wins and 124 shutouts in 14 seasons with New Jersey.

"It feels great," Brodeur said to the Blues website after signing. "I really appreciate the opportunity for me to be here the last few days. It definitely worked out real well. I'm excited for this fresh start."

There will also be a fresh start for Chicago in net suddenly.

Corey Crawford was ruled out for the game after head coach Joel Quenneville confirmed his starter sustained a lower body injury while attending a concert. Crawford is 12-5-1 this season with a 1.87 goals-against average, which had been the third-best. He will miss 2-3 weeks with the injury.

"I was at a concert the other day, I was on the way out, missed the step," Crawford said of the injury. "I didn't think it was that bad. I got up the next day and it was worse than I thought. Pretty embarrassed about it."

Antti Raanta (1-2-0) will start in Chicago's net. He lost his last start, the team's first game against the Blues this season.

Chicago (15-8-1) comes home after a six-game road trip, on which they enjoyed a 5-1 record, including a three-goal win over the defending Stanley Cup champions. And they have a three-game winning streak overall.

"We had big tests against good teams and we piled up five out of six, which is huge," Blackhawks center Brad Richards said after the trip.

Richards scored twice in Los Angeles and has three goals in his last two games.

"Halfway through the trip we were kind of on the bubble, right around a playoff spot," Richards added, "and we talked about trying to gain ground and gain momentum going into the second 20 games."

The team has 71 goals on the season, and hold the 8th-best mark in scoring (3.0 gpg). 

St. Louis defeated Chicago 3-2 at home Oct. 25th, their fifth victory over the Blackhawks in their last seven regular season meetings. But in Chicago, the Blackhawks have returned the favor, going 10-0-2 against the Blues in the last twelve at United Center.