Blackhawks' DeBrincat looks to sink Blues: 'We want to crush their hopes'

The Chicago Blackhawks are going to miss the playoffs for the first time in a decade, but they won't be lacking motivation Wednesday or Friday.

Despite the lost season, the Blackhawks can deal a pair of significant blows to their biggest Central Division rivals, the St. Louis Blues, when the two clubs play twice over the next three nights.

"They’re a good team and they’re fighting for a playoff spot right now," Blackhawks forward Alex DeBrincat told Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times. "We’re not going out there and just letting them take it. We want to crush their hopes."

DeBrincat notched a hat trick in their last meeting on March 18.

Entering Wednesday's game, the Blues sit one point behind the Avalanche for the final Western Conference spot with a game in hand. St. Louis will play Colorado in both teams' final regular-season contest Saturday.

Blues head coach Mike Yeo insists his squad knows what's at stake.

"Read the clips, and we don’t need extra motivation right now," he told Lazerus.

If the Blues miss out, it would be the first time they've done so since 2010-11. They have three regular-season games remaining.