Fresh off a Stanley Cup Finals appearance, the Norris Division-leading Chicago Blackhawks looked primed to make another deep run. That would begin with taking out their rivals, the St. Louis Blues.
The Jeremy Roenick-led Blackhawks bounced the Blues in the first round of the playoffs the season prior in six games. The Blues had their sights set on redemption this time around after letting an early 2-1 series lead slip in their first go at it.
Third-year goaltender, and 25-year old, Curtis Joseph had just wrapped up a very strong regular season. He finished up posting 29 wins, a .