HOCKEY STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS : Short Rest for Blackhawks as They Play Blues

After surviving a seventh-game showdown to stay alive in the NHL playoffs, the Chicago Blackhawks plunge right back into the game-every-other-night grind tonight, opening a second-round Stanley Cup series against the St. Louis Blues.

The Blackhawks at least will be at home, where they finished off the Minnesota North Stars, 5-2, Monday night.

Other second-round series open Thursday night, with the New Jersey Devils playing the New York Rangers and the Montreal Canadiens playing the Boston Bruins, who won the seventh game against the Hartford Whalers Tuesday night, 3-1.

In their seventh game, the Blackhawks, trailing 1-0, had to kill consecutive first-period major penalties that left them two men short for more than two minutes. They held Minnesota scoreless during that stretch, then got two goals apiece from Wayne Presley and Jeremy Roenick.

The Blues, who eliminated the Toronto Maple Leafs in five games, could have their best goalie, Curtis Joseph, back after he suffered a severely bruised shoulder. If Joseph doesn’t return, Vincent Riendeau will start.

The Blues’ offense is led by Brett Hull, who followed a record-breaking regular season (72 goals, 113 points) with five goals and five assists in the first round against the Maple Leafs. The Blues ranked eighth in the NHL in goals for (295) and goals against (279) during the regular season.

Blackhawk goalie Greg Millen, who opened the season with St. Louis and wound up in Chicago after a stop in Quebec, played well for victories in Games 3, 5 and 7, but was pulled in Games 2, 4 and 6.

Presley and Roenick each had five goals and Greg Gilbert scored four against the North Stars. Steve Thomas led the Blackhawks with 40 goals during the regular season and Steve Larmer had 90 points. The Blackhawks were fifth in goals for (316) but 14th in goals against (294) during the regular season.

Defense was at a premium in games between the two teams this season. Three games ended 8-3, another 9-6 and two more were 6-4. The Blues won the season series against the Blackhawks, 5-2-1--going 3-1-0 at St. Louis.