TEAM SNAPSHOTS
BLUES Colorado scored two third period goals on great deflections, including one in the final minute of the third period on Monday night, but the Blues persevered for a 3-2 shootout win against an Avalanche squad desperate for points.
Ryan O'Reilly scored the deciding goal and Jordan Binnington stopped all three Avalanche shooters in the shootout.
The win briefly put the Blues into second place in the Central Division.
"We've earned it," Blues captain Alex Pietrangelo said of climbing into second place. "It's been a long road to get here, but we've earned the spot we're in right now."
The Predators beat the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 on Tuesday night to bump the Blues back to third place. However, Winnipeg's loss to Minnesota on Tuesday means a win for the Blues would put them into a three-way tie for first in the Central Division on Wednesday.
BLACKHAWKS The Chicago Blackhawks made a late-season surge, posting the second-most wins of any team in the Central Division (18) over the last 30 games (trailing only the Blues' 21 wins), but they weren't able to climb back into the playoff picture.
Colorado's win against the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night eliminated Chicago from postseason contention.
Most recently, the Blackhawks dropped a 4-3 overtime decision to the Winnipeg Jets on Monday night.
HEAD-TO-HEAD Wednesday's game will be the fifth and final meeting between the clubs this season. The Blues are 1-1-2 against the Blackhawks this season but are 6-3-1 in their last 10 trips to Chicago.
Wednesday's matchup will be the 315th regular-season meeting between the clubs - the most against any opponent for the Blues.
