Blues infuriated by Hawks' comments to Backes

The "wakey, wakey" controversy is far from put to bed.

One look at the crowd of reporters gathered around Duncan Keith's locker after Monday's morning skate was absolute proof of that.

What began as an uproar over the shoulder-to-the-head hit Brent Seabrook delivered to Blues captain David Backes late in regulation of Game 2, has expanded to include a to-do over what some Blackhawks allegedly said to the woozy Backes as he was struggling to stay on his skates after the collision.

Seabrook was suspended three games for the hit, but that was just part of what had the Blues frothing, particularly Ryan Reaves, who called them "gutless" for some of the things said in the immediate aftermath.

"You don't need to be going after him when he doesn't even know where is," Reaves said.

Not since the Zapruder film has video - and audio - been dissected as much over a 24-hour period as Seabrook's hit and what was said in the aftermath. Some argue that one of the things heard on the video is Keith allegedly saying "wakey, wakey" to a dazed Backes.

"There's lots of things that get said out on the ice in the course of a hockey game, especially in playoffs," Keith said. "I'm an emotional guy. It's an emotional game. I don't remember everything that gets said out there.

"I didn't even see the hit, to be honest with you. I'm playing the puck and I shot the puck around, and the next thing I know, I see Seabs getting in a fracas so I jump in there. I don't know what was going on."

Jonathan Toews was also nearby after the hit and was asked about what he said to Backes.

"I didn't say anything really until he actually ... I mean, I don't know what he was feeling or going through," Toews said. "I guess you can imagine what he was like against the boards there. I think he was pretty fired up.

"He asked me to fight. That's the only reason I started talking to him. I don't remember what my words were.

"I think maybe some of their players thought we were trash talking them after the big hit, but I think we were just trying to clear everything and make sure we could move on from that play."

As for the "wakey, wakey" stuff?

"I don't know," Toews said. "Some things were said in the heat of the moment. It's not easy to not regret some of the things that might have been said, whether it's on that play or any other play. Sometimes that happens."

Backes wasn't in the lineup Monday for Game 2, and his status for the rest of the series is unknown.

What is known is this much: his absence will be felt.

"What would Chicago be like losing Toews?" St. Louis coach Ken Hitchcock said. "For us, Backes is Toews. It's a big hole."