CHICAGO - CHICAGO – “Wakey, wakey.”

As if the rivalry between the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues needed more ugliness, the on-ice microphones used for the television broadcast gathered more fuel for the fire in the aftermath of the suspension-garnering hit Blackhawks defenceman Brent Seabrook threw on Blues captain David Backes.

Amidst the scrum which ensued, somebody can be heard saying “Wakey, wakey” to Backes, who was having all kinds of difficulty staying on his feet. The most common belief is Blackhawks alternate captain Duncan Keith is the culprit, but there can be no proof.

From the other side, Blues forward Alex Steen appears to be responding, “Show some %&@*# class” while trying to help Backes.

As well, a photo was snapped of Seabrook sporting an ear-to-ear grin after being separated by officials from the scrum.

Seabrook was handed a three-game suspension Sunday, the first of his nine-year career, but as the series shifts to Chicago for Monday's Game 3 and with the Blues holding a 2-0 edge in the best-of-seven affair, the bad blood may very well make its way across the state line from Missouri to Illinois.

“I saw them talking to him. It makes it a little more gutless,” Blues forward Ryan Reaves said after his team's optional practice in St. Louis. “I don't think there's any need for that when a hit like that happens. You don't need to be going after him when he doesn't even know where he is.

“I'm not happy about that. I don't think anybody in this organization is happy about it. To see that happen, I think is just embarrassing in that organization for that to happen.”

Neither Seabrook or Keith were made available to address the media on Sunday, and Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville - who is likely to turn to Sheldon Brookbank to fill his opening among the defencemen - said he didn't hear of any of his players taunting Backes.

Blues head coach Ken Hitchcock, who was also upset about Bryan Bickell's kneeing infraction on Vladimir Sobotka, wasn't about to weigh into the taunting issue.

“That's something that the league can deal with, Duncan's comments or his mannerisms or whatever,” Hitchcock said. “They can deal with that. I'm sure there will be somebody saying something to him.”

Whether it's a word or worse remains to be seen. Same for what happens next in what's been an entertaining series to start.

At first glance, it would be a miracle if Backes didn't suffer a concussion from Seabrook's hit and played on Monday.

“All I know is he's upright. That's about it right now,” Hitchcock said on Sunday. “We don't have any further information and probably won't until late tomorrow. I know one thing, he couldn't play today.”