Preview: Blues, Blackhawks Meet in Central Division Clash CHICAGO (Interstat) — Two Central Division rivals mired near the bottom of the NHL standings will look to build on rare recent victories when the St. Louis Blues visit the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night at United Center. Both teams enter with identical 17-win records, with the Blues at 17-26 and the Blackhawks at 17-25. The matchup represents a critical opportunity for either club to gain ground in a tightly packed lower tier of the Western Conference. St. Louis arrives following a 2-0 shutout victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, a game anchored by goaltender Jordan Binnington. Binnington, a key player to watch, stopped all 25 shots he faced for his first win since Dec. 27. His recent performances, however, have been volatile, including a 6-1 loss to Colorado on Dec. 31 where he faced 43 shots. Chicago counters with momentum from a 3-2 overtime win against the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday. Forward Tyler Bertuzzi was the catalyst, recording a hat trick on five shots. Bertuzzi has been a bright spot, tallying five goals and two assists in his last six games for a Blackhawks offense that has struggled with consistency. The season series is split 1-1. The Blues won the most recent meeting 3-2 in St. Louis on Dec. 12, but the Blackhawks delivered an 8-3 rout in the first matchup on Oct. 15. For St. Louis, success likely hinges on Binnington replicating his shutout form and limiting Chicago’s chances. Captain Robert Thomas, who scored in the win over Montreal, will be relied upon to drive offense. The Blackhawks will look to Bertuzzi to continue his hot streak and test Binnington early. Secondary scoring will be crucial, as Chicago’s recent results have swung wildly from high-scoring wins to lopsided defeats. Following this game, both teams face quick turnarounds. The Blues begin a back-to-back road set in Utah and Vegas on Friday and Saturday. The Blackhawks host the Washington Capitals on Friday before a road game in Nashville on Saturday. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CST.