NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Blackhawks and Columbus Blue Jackets wrap up their second two-game series this season with a 7:00 p.m. puck drop at the United Center.
After blowing 3-1, 4-2, and 5-4 leads against the Blue Jackets in Thursday night’s 6-5 loss, the Blackhawks look to get back on their point pace that they had enjoyed through the first quarter of the season. After starting the season 0-3-1, Chicago has gone 6-2-3 over the past 11 games. The Blue Jackets have been responsible for the last two regulation losses that the Blackhawks have experienced.
Broadcast Info
Puck Drop: 7:00 p.m. CT
TV: NBCSCH, FS-O
Radio: WGN 720 AM, TUDN 1200 AM
Expected Lineups
Blackhawks (6-5-4, 16 pts)
Janmark – Suter – Kane
DeBrincat – Strome – Kubalík
Kurashev – Söderberg – Hagel
Highmore – Kämpf – Johnson
Keith – Mitchell
deHaan – Carlsson
Zadorov – Beaudin
Lankinen
Subban
Blue Jackets (7-5-3, 17 pts)
Laine – Roslovic – Atkinson
Grigorenko – Jenner – Texier
Domi – Stenlund– Bjorkstrand
Robinson – Nash – Foligno
Werenski – Jones
Del Zotto – Savard
Gavrikov – Peeke
Korpisalo
Merzlikins
Injury Report
Blackhawks:
Brent Seabrook (IR – Lower Back)
Zack Smith (IR – Back)
Andrew Shaw (IR – Concussion)
Kirby Dach (LTIR – Wrist)
Alex Nylander (LTIR – Knee)
Jonathan Toews (LTIR – Illness)
Connor Murphy (Out 10-14 Days – Hip)
Ryan Carpenter (Day-to-day – COVID Protocol)
Blue Jackets:
Gustav Nyquist (Out Indefinitely – Shoulder)
Brandon Dubinsky (LTIR – Wrist)
Matiss Kivlenieks (Day-to-day – Lower Body)
What To Watch For
• The Blue Jackets scored twice on the powerplay on Thursday night, snapping a penalty-kill streak for the Blackhawks at 14-straight kills. Chicago’s penalty-kill unit still ranks in the middle of the league at 18th (80.0%) and 12th in the league in times shorthanded per game at 3.33. The Blue Jackets are the best in the league with only 2.20 times shorthanded per game.
• Kevin Lankinen is back in net for the Blackhawks after allowing six goals in Thursday night’s 6-5 loss to Columbus. It marked the first time since his first start of the season back on January 19 against the Panthers that Lankinen gave up five or more goals in a game. Thursday night’s loss was also the third time this season that Lankinen saw 40 or more shots in a game. He gets the redemption start tonight.
• The Blackhawks enjoyed a balanced attack on Thursday night between the big guns (Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat – three points each) and the rookies (Ian Mitchell, Pius Suter, and Nicolas Beaudin scoring one goal each). Kane and DeBrincat lead the Blackhawks in points this season, while Suter leads all rookies in goals (6) and is tied for the lead in rookies points (9). Look for that to continue if the Blackhawks are going to get back on the point pace they have been on for the past dozen games.
Betting Odds
The Blackhawks are +1.5 point underdogs against the Blue Jackets tonight, and find themselves at -108 on the moneyline according to the DraftKings Illinois Sportsbook. You can go right here to sign up and make a bet.
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Get Caught Up …
Colliton on Lankinen's response to his 1st bad game: "It’s a hard league, so you’re going to be tested every day… Love his composure, his demeanor, how he carries himself. I wanted to give him a chance to respond to it right away instead of sitting on it a bunch of days."
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) February 13, 2021
#CBJ John Tortorella said Zach Werenski will "be good to go" against the #Blackhawks on Saturday after missing three games with a lower-body injury the defenseman sustained in the third period of a 4-3 win against the Stars on Feb. 4.
— Brandon Cain (@brandonmcain) February 12, 2021
DeBrincat on playing with Kane: "I'm old enough now to know when to give it to him and when not to. I was definitely one of the guys that originally struggled with that, wanted to just always give it to him."
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) February 12, 2021
Strome on how Blackhawks can reduce turnovers: "I guess not turn the puck over."
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) February 13, 2021
Colliton on still having no fans at the United Center: "No one is loving the situation we have in the world right now. There’s lots of things we would like to be different. But ultimately we’ve got to get through this the best we can. We’re in it together. It is what it is."
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) February 13, 2021
