Patrick Kane injured in 4
Chicago Blackhawks center Michal Handzus speaks to members of the media outside the United Center locker room, before the start of his team's match up against the St. Louis Blues and his 1000 career game. (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune / )
The Chicago Blackhawks have found themselves in an unfamiliar situation: Looking up at a team in the Central Division.
That team, the St. Louis Blues, was in town Wednesday night as the Hawks began a last-gasp effort to catch them as they took the ice at the United Center.
The Blues entered the game with the most points in the NHL with 101 points, eight more than the Hawks in the Central. With the regular season winding down the Hawks hoped to tighten things up in the Central against a Blues team that had won the three previous matchups this season.
'They're a great team, said Hawks center Michal Handzus, who appeared in his 1000th career NHL game. 'They're first in the NHL. They've played consistent the whole year. They have a very good coach (in Ken Hitchcock) and they play the right way. You have to earn your goals.'
Despite the ga and with only 13 games to reduce it, the Hawks believed they can still catch the Blues in the Central.
'We have to set our goals high,' Hawks defenseman Brent Seabrook said. 'We've been in that position the last couple of years and there's no reason for that to change. We have to go out there the last (13) or so games of the season and try to do what we can. We have to start with (Wednesday night) and try to get this thing back on track.'
The defending Stanley Cup champions had to do it without the services of winger Brandon Saad, who missed his second consecutive game with an upper-body injury. Coach Joel Quennevlle said of Saad: 'We'll see how he is (Thursday). Good chance by the weekend. Fingers crossed for Friday (against the Carolina Hurricanes).
Defenseman Michal Rozsival remains sidelined with a lower-body injury.
Corey Crawford started in goal for the Hawks and was opposed by Ryan Miller for the Blues.
ckuc@tribune.com
Twitter @ChrisKuc
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