CHICAGO -- The Chicago Blackhawks think they will be at full strength when the NHL playoffs start next week.
Right now, not so much.
The defending Stanley Cup champions will be without goaltender Corey Crawford and forwards Artem Anisimov, Marian Hossa and Andrew Shaw when they take on the St. Louis Blues on Thursday night.
Crawford, Anisimov and Shaw are out with upper-body injuries, and Hossa is making his way back from a lower-body injury. Crawford and Hossa participated in Chicago's morning skate, and it looks as if Crawford will return for Saturday's season finale at Columbus for his first game since a 5-0 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on March 14.