The Chicago Blackhawks and Columbus Blue Jackets are two teams looking to right the ship as the season barrels down the final stretch of games. Separated by three points in the Central Division standings, both teams are headed in the wrong direction as the playoff chase intensifies.
Chicago sits in fifth-place with 41 points and trails the Nashville Predators for the fourth and final playoff spot by four points. Columbus has 38 points on the year, seven behind the Predators and is tied with the Dallas Stars, but sit in seventh-place based on points percentage.
One-Timers
• The Blackhawks have played six games on Saturdays this season, they are 1-5-0 and have lost their last five-straight. The Blue Jackets have lost eight of their last ten games (2-7-1) coming into the series.
• Columbus has killed 25 of the last 27 power-play chances against them in the last 10 games, while the Blackhawks have converted just once in their last 20 powerplay opportunities coming into the series.
• Chicago comes into this series leading the season-series over Columbus with a 4-2-0 record. The Blackhawks have wins in the last three games, but the teams have not met in over a month. Dating back to the 2010-11 season, the Blackhawks are 26-8-2 over their last 36 games against the Blue Jackets.
Puck Drops and Broadcast Info
• Saturday, April 10th at 6:00 p.m. CT
TV: NBCSCH, BSOH, NHLN
Radio: WGN 720 AM / TUDN 1200-AM
• Monday, April 12th at 6:00 p.m. CT
TV: NBCSCH, BSOH, NHLN
Radio: WGN 720 AM / TUDN 1200-AM
Expected Lineups
Blackhawks (18-18-5, 41 pts)
DeBrincat – Dach – Kane
Kubalík – Kurashev – Hinostroza
Söderberg – Suter – Strome
Hagel – Kämpf – Carpenter
Keith – Boqvist
de Haan – Kalynuk
Zadorov – Murphy
Lankinen
Subban
Blue Jackets (15-19-8, 38 pts)
Laine – Texier – Bjorkstrand
Robinson – Domi – Stenlund
Grigorenko – Roslovic – Atkinson
Matteau – Dalpe – Shorewood
Gavrikov – Jones
Lehtonen – Del Zotto
Carlsson – Harrington
Merzlikins
Korpisalo
Tale of the Tape
Powerplay
Blackhawks: 24.6% (6th)
Blue Jackets: 14.1% (29th)
Penalty-Kill
Blackhawks: 73.0% (30th)
Blue Jackets: 78.0% (21st)
Faceoffs
Blackhawks: 46.5% (27th)
Blue Jackets: 46.5% (28th)
Goals Per Game
Blackhawks: 2.73 (19th)
Blue Jackets: 2.48 (28th)
Goals Against Per Game
Blackhawks: 3.10 (21st)
Blue Jackets: 3.19 (24th)
Top Scorer
Blackhawks: Patrick Kane – 14 goals, 37 assists, 51 points
Blue Jackets: Oliver Bjorkstrand – 14 goals, 18 assists, 32 points
Injury Report
Blackhawks:
Brent Seabrook (LTIR – Retirement)
Zack Smith (LTIR – Back)
Andrew Shaw (LTIR – Concussion)
Alex Nylander (LTIR – Knee)
Jonathan Toews (LTIR – Illness)
Blue Jackets:
Gustav Nyquist (Out Indefinitely – Shoulder)
Brandon Dubinsky (LTIR – Wrist)
Zach Werenski (Out For Season – Hernia)
Nick Foligno (Day-to-day – Upper Body)
Emil Bemstrom (Indefinite – Lower Body)
Boone Jenner (Out Six Weeks – Broken Finger)
Keep An Eye Out For
Kane Crushing Columbus. Patrick Kane’s 45 assists and 68 points against Columbus are his most against any NHL opponent. He has 13 points in six games against the Blue Jackets this year, the most against any opponent for him this season. If the Blackhawks are going to claw their way back into contention with the Predators, they’ll need Kane to get hot. He has just two points in his last four games since the beginning of April. He finished the month of March on a five-game point streak where he tallied seven points.
Please, Sir. I Want Some More. Oliver Bjorkstrand leads the Blue Jackets with a 32 points this year and has eight goals and 16 points over his the last 19 games. He has three goals and five points against the Blackhawks this season, including a two-goal night on February 23rd, a 6-5 shootout win for Chicago.