On the verge of moving on to the second round for the first time since 2012, the St. Louis Blues still have a familiar thorn in their sides - the Chicago Blackhawks.
St. Louis squandered an opportunity to end the series on home ice in Game 5, and the Blues don't want to give the defending champions another chance.
"We don't want to wait until Monday to try to do this," Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk said. "We're ready to come in tonight and play our best game of the series."
With Game 6 set for Saturday night at the United Center, the pressure is on the Blues to win in one of the most hostile arenas in the league, but that doesn't faze head coach Ken Hitchcock.
"We just want to win this series," Hitchcock said. "It doesn't matter when or where. We'll play them on the street if they want."
The Blackhawks are 12-4 when facing elimination since 2009, and have a record of 44-15 in Games 4-7 in that span.
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