CHICAGO - The Chicago Blackhawks felt the repercussions of Brent Seabrooks hit on David Backes again on Sunday. Nike Air Max Cheap Uk . How it affects the rest of their playoff series against the St. Louis Blues remains to be seen. Seabrook was suspended for three games by the NHL on his 29th birthday for his elbow to Backes head late in the third period of St. Louis 4-3 overtime win in Game 2. Now Chicago has to dig out of a 2-0 hole without one of its best defencemen in a rocky start to its Stanley Cup title defence. "You need his size, you need his presence and experience and his leadership," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said before Seabrooks suspension was announced. "Hes got the big shot on the point and hes on our power play as well. He kills penalties, so he plays all important minutes." Seabrook received a five-minute major and game misconduct penalty after he wiped out Backes at 15:09 of the third, and the Blues used the resulting power play to score the tying goal with 6.4 seconds left in regulation on Vladimir Tarasenkos long wrist shot. Backes had to be helped off the ice and did not return. The captains status for Monday nights Game 3 is up in the air. "All I know is hes upright, and thats about it right now," Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said Sunday. "We dont have any further information and probably wont have until late tomorrow." Backes and Seabrook were not made available to the media on the day off, but much of the talk centred on the hit anyway. The TV broadcast picked up someone taunting Backes in the aftermath of the big blow, but it was unclear if it was coming from the ice or the crowd in the corner where the play occurred. "I saw them talking to him. It makes it a little more gutless," Blues forward Ryan Reaves said. "I dont think theres any need for that. He doesnt even know where he really is. I think if they want to start getting into that battle, we can play the same way. Well see where it takes us." Quenneville said he did not see or hear any players taunting Backes after he went down. In addition to the hit by Seabrook, Hitchcock also was upset by Bryan Bickells knee-on-knee collision with Blues centre Vladimir Sobotka in the third. He said the Blackhawks forward was involved in a similar play with defenceman Alex Pietrangelo in the first. "That part bothers me more than the hit on David, a hit that went array," Hitchcock said. "The hit on Sobotka was a continuation of what happened to Petro in the first period." Here are five things to watch in Game 3 of this increasingly testy series: HOME SWEET HOME: The Blackhawks went 11-2 at home in the playoffs last year, outscoring the Wild, Red Wings, Kings and Bruins by a combined score of 41-23. They went 27-7-7 at the United Center this season, including a 2-0-1 mark against the Blues. "You just feed off of it," Quenneville said. "Itll be exciting to get back here, get some of the positive vibes off it and look to turn this thing around." VLADIMIR THE GREAT: Tarasenko missed the last 15 games of the regular season with a broken right thumb. But the 22-year-old Russian forward caused all sorts of headaches for the Blackhawks in the first two games of the series. The speedy Tarasenko had a first-period goal in the playoff opener, and then had the tying power-play score in Saturdays victory. With Seabrook out for the next three games and Backes status in question, Tarasenko could take on a more prominent role for the rest of the series. SO MANY PENALTIES: The Blues and Blackhawks combined for 17 penalties and 61 penalty minutes in Game 2. The defending Stanley Cup champions were responsible for 11 of those penalties and 41 penalty minutes, both season highs. It looked as if the Blackhawks wanted to match the physicality of the Blues, and it took them out of their puck possession game at times. "I think a little bit we might have played into their hands, but weve got to get back to our hockey, because when were playing that way we do a good job and thats how we win," Chicago forward Brandon Saad said. BEEN HERE BEFORE: St. Louis began last years playoffs with a pair of 2-1 victories over Los Angeles at home, including an overtime win in the opener. The Blues then lost the next four games against the Kings. "We played the best game all year Game 3 in Los Angeles and lost," Hitchcock said. "This is going to be a very long series and were going to have to be better than weve been if we expect to win a game in Chicago." ABOUT THOSE GOALTENDERS: Blues goalie Ryan Miller has been solid since Chicagos three-goal first period in Game 1. He had 25 saves in Saturdays win, and all three of the Blackhawks goals came with traffic in front of the net. Corey Crawford made 48 saves for Chicago in the triple-overtime opener, but he was disappointed with his 27-save performance in Game 2. "He said he needs to be better, and he needs to be better," Quenneville said. ___ AP Sports Writer R.B. Fallstrom in St. Louis contributed to this report. ___ Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap Nike Air Max Uk Sale Online . Richard Jefferson scored 17 points and Diante Garrett had a career-high 15 points as the Jazz had seven players with 10 points or more in Utahs largest margin of victory this season. Nike Air Max Discount Uk . -- Another baseball tradition is about to largely disappear: a manager, with a crazed look in his eyes, charging the field and getting into a face-to-face shouting match with an umpire. http://www.ukairmax.com/ . Bjoerndalen, who had failed to win any major race for two years before Sochi, writes in a Facebook entry that he is "full of energy and inspiration" after winning the 10-kilometre sprint and mixed relay at last months Olympics. PITTSBURGH -- Jeff Locke insists he didnt need a confidence boost after a late summer swoon. A return to basics and a little help from his teammates provided one anyway. Flashing the form that made him a surprise All-Star in July, Locke allowed three hits over seven innings to earn his first victory in nearly two months as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Chicago Cubs 3-1 on Thursday night to move into a tie for first place in the NL Central. "Nothings really changed with me mentally," Locke said. "I still try to go out and be aggressive. Tonight was an example of everything working out the way youd like it to." Locke (10-5) struck out five and walked one to help the Pirates (85-61) win their fourth straight. They pulled even with the Cardinals, who lost 5-3 to Milwaukee. Mark Melancon worked out of a two-on, none-out jam in the ninth for his 14th save. Jordy Mercer went 2 for 4 with an RBI double for Pittsburgh. Marlon Byrd and Pedro Alvarez each added an RBI single for the Pirates, who hardly appear content with their first winning season in 21 years. Pittsburgh crossed the 82-victory plateau on Monday night in Texas and followed it up with two more wins in a sweep of the Rangers. Locke and some stellar defence kept it going against Chicago. First baseman Justin Morneau saved at least one run with a snow-cone catch in the fourth. Mercer tossed in a spectacular jump throw from deep shortstop to end the sixth, and Gold Glove centre fielder Andrew McCutchen laid out to take away a sinking line drive off the bat of Junior Lake in the seventh. "I already told Cutch that as a pitcher you see a lot of balls go over your head and you see him and you say theres no way he can close that gap," Locke said. "Before you know it, hes belly-up with the ball in his glove. Unbelievable play." The Pirates needed Locke to be sharp after Chicagos Chris Rusin continued his impressive run. Rusin (2-4) gave up two runs and four hits in seven innings for the Cubs, looking every bit like a player who plans to be on the opening day roster next spring. "Hes been right there with (Travis Wood) as our most effective starter over the last (few weeks)," Chicago manager Dale Sveum said. "Ever since hes got intoo the rotation, hes done pretty much a great job every outing. Nike Air Max Cheap Uk Online. " It was the kind of performance that Locke put up regularly during the first half. Yet he entered Thursday winless since beating Cincinnati on July 21. He struggled through August and never worked more than 5 2-3 innings in any start as his ERA slowly rose from 2.11 to 3.23. Despite fighting control issues, Locke stressed he wasnt fatigued and appeared to find something last week against St. Louis, giving up just two earned runs while battling through five innings. He carried it forward against the Cubs, who were coming off an impressive series win against the Reds. "It was intent, conviction and execution," Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. "All three of them were covered off the mound tonight by Jeff." The Pirates were given a long ovation when they walked onto the field, as a crowded PNC Park in mid-September -- a rarity over the last two decades -- let a generation of frustration out in 30 seconds of pure joy. "It was pretty impressive to get a standing ovation like that just to hit the 82 mark," Mercer said. "Weve still got a lot of work left to do. Theres unfinished business." Rusin did an admirable job of trying to spoil the fun. The 26-year-old is part of Chicagos future. He pitched that way once again against a team that typically batters left-handers. The Pirates came in hitting .266 against lefties but only touched up Rusin in the fourth. Byrd singled home McCutchen, and Alvarez singled to deep right to bring home Morneau. NOTES: Pittsburgh All-Star closer Jason Grilli will work in middle relief for the time being as he works his way back from a right forearm injury. Melancon will remain the closer while LHP Tony Watson and RHP Kyle Farnsworth work in setup roles. ... Pittsburgh LHP Wandy Rodriguez threw 67 pitches in a simulated game. Rodriguez hasnt pitched since June 5 due to discomfort in his arm. ... The Cubs have switched to a six-man rotation for the final two-plus weeks of the season to give RHP Scott Baker more work. Baker is recovering from reconstructive elbow surgery. ... 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