Blues-Hawks on Versus highlights Wednesday

With just five days left in the regular season, the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks still haven't locked up a playoff berth. They'll try to take another step toward one on Wednesday, but they'll have to beat one of their biggest rivals to do so.

The Hawks, eighth in the West, host the St. Louis Blues at the United Center. Both teams have been off since Sunday, when the Blues routed the Blue Jackets 6-1 at Columbus while the Hawks lost 2-0 at home to Tampa Bay.

Versus will air the game in the United States at 8 p.m. ET.

Wednesday's eight-game schedule gets under way an before the Blues and Hawks face off with four games.

Detroit, the Central Division champion, visits Carolina for a rare late-season inter-conference game. The Hurricanes, ninth in the East, have been off since Sunday's 2-1 overtime loss to Buffalo. Boston will try to rebound from Monday's 5-3 loss to the Rangers in New York when it hosts the New York Islanders.

Washington, which is battling Philadelphia for the top spot in the East, hosts Florida, while Toronto is at New Jersey in a game that can be seen on TSN in Canada.

The final installment of this season's Battle of Alberta begins at 9:30 p.m. ET when Calgary hosts Edmonton. The Flames start the day in ninth place, one point behind Chicago, after Sunday's 2-1 win at Colorado.

Two games on the West Coast have major playoff implications. Newly crowned Pacific Division San Jose, fresh off Monday's 6-1 wipeout of Los Angeles, hosts seventh-place Anaheim. The Ducks have been idle since Sunday's 4-3 loss to Dallas. The Kings are back home for a meeting with Phoenix, with the winner grabbing fourth place in the West. The Coyotes have been off since Friday's 4-3 shootout loss to Carolina.