After a track-meet game on Tuesday, the Chicago Blackhawks and Columbus Blue Jackets meet again for the sixth-time this season tonight, closing a 13-day road trip for the Blackhawks. Chicago holds a 3-2-0 record over Columbus this season and is ahead of them in the Central Division standings. The Blackhawks are currently in the fourth and final playoff spot in the Division based on points (24) and points percentage (.600) through 20 games this season. The Blue Jackets sit in fifth-place in points (21) and sixth-place in points percentage (.525).
Broadcast Info
Puck Drop: 6:00 p.m. CT
TV: NBCSCH, FS-O
Radio: WGN 720 AM / TUDN 1200-AM
Expected Lineups
Blackhawks (10-6-4, 24 pts)
DeBrincat – Suter – Kane
Kubalík – Wallmark – Hagel
Janmark – Söderberg – Kurashev
Highmore – Kämpf – Carpenter
Keith – Mitchell
Zadorov – Murphy
de Haan – Boqvist
Subban
Lankinen
Blue Jackets (8-7-5, 21 pts)
Laine – Roslovic – Atkinson
Jenner – Texier – Foligno
Bemstrom – Stenlund– Bjorkstrand
Robinson – Nash – Domi
Werenski – Jones
Gavrikov – Carlsson
Savard – Del Zotto
Korpisalo
Kivlenieks
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)
Lucas Carlsson (IR – Groin)
Dylan Strome (Day-to-day – Concussion)
Blue Jackets:
Gustav Nyquist (Out Indefinitely – Shoulder)
Brandon Dubinsky (LTIR – Wrist)
Elvis Merzlikins (IR – Upper Body)
Betting Odds
The Blackhawks are +1.5 point underdogs against the Blue Jackets tonight, and find themselves at +100 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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What To Watch For
• Patrick Kane had four points against the Blue Jackets on Tuesday. He scored his 398th career goal as well, moving him two away from joining Steve Larmer (406), Stan Mikita (534), and Bobby Hull (604) as the only Blackhawks in franchise history to score 400+ goals with the club. Kane has at least one point in 17 of his last 19 career games against the Blue Jackets with 10 goals and 33 points in that span.
• Patrik Laine and the Blue Jackets’ powerplay torched Chicago on Tuesday night. Going 3-for-4 on the man-advantage, with Laine scoring two powerplay goals, the Blackhawks need to do a much better job if they find themselves on the penalty-kill. In 10 games since Laine joined the Blue Jackets on February 2, the Columbus powerplay has clicked at a 29.2% rate, which is sixth in the NHL in that span. Columbus ranks 18th in the NHL for the entire season on the powerplay at 20.0%, while Chicago’s penalty-kill is 21st in the league at 76.6%.
Wallmark on the penalty kill defending Laine tonight:
"He’s a goal scorer and he’s going to shoot the puck. You have to be ready when he’s on the ice and take those passes away so they can’t find him as easy as last game."
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) February 25, 2021
• Malcolm Subban gets the start for the Blackhawks tonight in relief of Kevin Lankinen. Subban is 2-1-1 this season, having gone 2-0-1 in his last three starts after losing the opening game of the season to the Tampa Bay Lightning. In his last three outings, Subban has allowed only six goals and has a .941 save percentage.
Get Caught Up …
Colliton says youth development vs. pushing for playoffs aren't conflicting priorities, but rather in tandem: "We like that we’re in the mix, we’re in the race, every game matters. That’s a huge boost for development for our guys, so we’re trying to win for sure."
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) February 25, 2021
Malcolm Subban will start in goal tonight vs. Columbus.
Jeremy Colliton said “for now, plan is same lineup.” #Blackhawks
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) February 25, 2021
Got some changes for the #CBJ tonight vs #Blackhawks …
Werenski, Del Zotto and Bemstrom all in there, Grigorenko, Harrington are scratched and Peeke was assigned to @monstershockey on Wednesday.
Korpisalo in net.
— Brian Hedger (@BrianHedger) February 25, 2021
#CBJ Patrik Laine has 6-4-10 in 10 games with Columbus since the trade from Winnipeg.
Blue Jackets power play is 6th in the #NHL in that span at 29.2 percent.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) February 24, 2021