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NHL on NBC: Blues hope to position for Central Division crown by beating Red Wings

Gustav Nyquist

Detroit Red Wings center Gustav Nyquist (14), of Sweden, scores against the St. Louis Blues in the first period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Jan. 20, 2014, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

AP

NBC continues its coverage of the 2013-14 campaign today when the St. Louis Blues host the Detroit Red Wings at Scottrade Center at 12:30 p.m. ET. In addition to NBC, you can watch the game online.

When the’s NHL’s schedule makers decided upon a season finale between historic (but no longer divisional or even conference) rivals, one can imagine that they were crossing their fingers that something big would be on the line for the Detroit Red Wings or the St. Louis Blues.

St. Louis’ stakes

Just a week or two ago, most people probably would’ve gambled everything that this would be a glorious scrimmage for the Blues and a do-or-die skirmish for the Red Wings. Instead, both teams are already guaranteed spots in their respective conferences ... but that doesn’t mean this game lacks importance.

Simply put, the Blues face this consideration: finish Sunday with more points than Detroit’s old nemesis the Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis wins the Central Division (and takes on the Minnesota Wild in the first round). Fall short or tie the Avs - Colorado holds tiebreaker advantages - and the Blues must thwart the defending champion Chicago Blackhawks to avoid a first-round exit for the third season in a row.

With all due respect to the Wild, that situation provides plenty of incentive for the Blues to earn a win on Sunday. (The Avalanche face the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday night.)

Banged-up Blues

Despite the significance of this game, the Blues won’t face the Red Wings with their full compliment of players, though head coach Ken Hitchcock explained to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that it’s not necessarily by design.
“Anybody that can play is playing ... anybody that can’t isn’t going to play,” Hitchcock said. “We’re playing that game to win and that’s going to be our attitude. Our roster is our roster, nobody is feeling sorry for us.

“But after the game is over, we’re going to move on quickly. It’s an important game. We’ve got to get a (win), but if we don’t, we’ve still got to get up Monday morning and find a roster to be able to play.”

Considering how Detroit got to this point, they can relate to that mentality.

Motivation to finish strong

Beyond that more pertinent motivation, the Blues and Red Wings would like to cut off recent struggles. Things are most glaring for St. Louis; they’re hoping to avoid finishing the season with a six-game losing streak in a 2013-14 campaign in which they don’t have any other losing streak that exceeds two contests. Detroit, meanwhile, has lost three of four games but finds itself firmly planted in a first-round series against the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Boston Bruins.

To some, seeing all 16 playoff teams clinched already may seem anticlimactic. Yet, with such important seeding on the line, hockey fans should find plenty to enjoy beginning with this game on Sunday.

Follow James O’Brien @cyclelikesedins