Hawks' schedule of Central importance

This might not be such a good thing for the Blackhawks: Starting Wednesday night, their remaining seven games are against Central Division opponents.

And going into Tuesday's schedule of games, all five Central Division teams were sitting in a playoff spot in the Western Conference.

"It's amazing where it came from just a few years ago when everybody looked at Detroit at the top and they took advantage of some of the teams," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said.

"All of a sudden, Nashville got in last year and you look at Columbus, and St. Louis is maybe playing better than anyone in the league, and ourselves - everyone has improved dramatically and has a lot of upside."

The Blues come to the United Center on Wednesday night having won five games in a row, including a weekend sweep of their key home-and-home series with Columbus.

Blues management decided not to be sellers at the trade deadline, keeping veterans such as Keith Tkachuk, and the team has taken off from being 14th in the West as recently as Feb. 24.

"I think we are a bunch of underdogs in that room," said goalie Chris Mason, who has started 27 games in a row to lead the Blues' surge up the standings. "We are fighting to prove ourselves; we are fighting for recognition and to get in the playoffs.

"We are hungry and want this so bad."

The Blues have won four of five games from the Hawks this season. St Louis has only six games remaining, five of which are on the road.

Ceremony still on: Glenn Hall won't be there Wednesday night at the UC for his Heritage Night because of an illness in the family, but the Hawks still will honor Mr. Goalie with a video tribute.

Many believe Hall is the greatest goalie in Hawks history, having led the team to its last Stanley Cup in 1961.

Tip-ins: Single-game playoff tickets went on sale Tuesday and remain available at the United Center Box office, the Blackhawks' Michigan Avenue store and through Ticketmaster. - Patrick Kane was reunited with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Sharp on the top line for most of Tuesday's game at Montreal. - Alex Burrows' pulling of Duncan Keith's hair Sunday went without any further disciplinary action by the NHL.