Blackhawks at Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets still are hanging on to the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference despite a scoring slump and look to begin turning things around when they host the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday. The Blue Jackets have produced a total of nine goals in their last five games while going just 1-3-1 and have won just five of their last 17 contests.
“We’ve got to keep moving forward. Another big game against a good team on Saturday at home,” Columbus defenseman Seth Jones told reporters after Thursday's 2-1 loss at Philadelphia. “We can’t sulk over this and hang our heads. It is what it is. It happened.” The Blue Jackets play six of their next nine at home, starting with a matchup against offseason trade partner Chicago, which has won three of its last four after posting a 3-1 win over San Jose on Friday. Nick Schmaltz recorded a goal and an assist in the victory for the Blackhawks, who are beginning a four-game road trip as they sit 10 points out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Patrick Kane leads the team with 57 points but was kept off the scoresheet on Friday after registering two goals and two assists over his previous three contests.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NHL Network, NBCS Chicago, FS Ohio (Columbus)
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (27-27-8): Schmaltz, who had recorded one point in his previous eight games, ranks second on the team with 42 points after his performance against San Jose. Artem Anisimov scored for the third time in four contests on Friday to keep pace with Schmaltz for third on the club in goals with 17 - six behind leader Kane. Jean-Francois Berube made 42 saves against the Sharks in his first start with Chicago, meaning Anton Forsberg likely will get the nod versus his former team after going 2-1-0 with six goals allowed in his last three starts.
ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (30-26-5): Artemi Panarin, acquired from Chicago in the offseason for Brandon Saad, scored the only goal on Thursday to tie Josh Anderson for the team lead with 17 and increase his team-leading point total to 49. Jones still is second in points with 36 but has been kept off the scoresheet in six straight games, while Oliver Bjorkstrand is scoreless in four contests as he prepares to play in his 100th NHL game on Saturday. Sergei Bobrovsky has allowed fewer than three goals in five of his last six games (3-2-1) after going winless in the previous four.
OVERTIME
1. Chicago rookie RW Alex DeBrincat is second on the team with 22 goals but has recorded just one shot without notching a point in his last three contests.
2. Columbus D Ryan Murray has averaged 20 minutes, 37 seconds of ice time in two games since returning to the lineup after missing almost three months with a back injury.
3. The Blackhawks are 3-1-1 in their last five meetings with the Blue Jackets, including a 5-1 home win on Oct. 7.