St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Craig Adams posted a goal and an assist as Chicago remained in the hunt for a playoff berth by escaping with a 4-3 win over St. Louis at Scottrade Center.

Andrew Ladd, Duncan Keith and Jonathan Toews also lit the lamp for the Blackhawks, who have won four of seven and crept within four of the eighth seed in the Western Conference. Following the Oilers' 2-1 win in Calgary late Saturday, Nashville, Vancouver and Edmonton are deadlocked for the final playoff spot with 86 points.

Nikolai Khabibulin recorded his 21st win of the season with a 31-save performance.

Brad Boyes, Keith Tkachuk and Paul Kariya tallied for the Blues, who have lost eight of 10. Manny Legace allowed all four goals on only 19 shots.

The Hawks took a 1-0 lead just 1:40 into the contest, as Ladd followed a loose puck to the left of the Blues' net and managed to slip a shot through from the left post.

Toews made it 2-0 late in the first when his right-circle wrister sailed through traffic in front and in, then Chicago assumed a three-goal edge when Keith notched a short-handed goal with 4:48 left in the second.

Adams posted another short-handed score 2:04 into the third which put the Blues behind by four and seemingly clinched the contest.

However, Tkachuk and Boyes posted goals roughly nine minutes apart to bring the home team within 4-2, then Kariya pumped one home on the power play from the right circle to give the Hawks a scare with 2:40 left in regulation.

St. Louis frantically tried for the equalizer in the final 1:12 with Legace pulled for an extra attacker, but was unable to crack Khabibulin.

Play deteriorated with six seconds left, as the frustration between the long- time rivals came to a head. Keith rammed Blues forward Andy McDonald into the boards, drawing an elbowing call and a match penalty for intent-to-injure.