ST. LOUIS - This could be the final game of the season for the Chicago Blackhawks. The Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues head into their Game 5 Thursday at Scottrade Center with St. Louis up 3-1 in their Western Conference First Round series. Here are five keys to Game 5.
1. Close it out: The Blues have a chance to end the series Thursday. They want to end the series Thursday.
For a team with a recent history of disappointments in the playoffs, failing to get out of the first round for the past three seasons, it would be a huge boost to knock the defending Stanley Cup champions out in Game 5, not allowing confidence and experience to creep back into the series.