Blackhawks at Blue Jackets
THE STORY: What's in a number? Well, it depends on your point of view. Although the Chicago Blackhawks have seen last year's fourth-best power play plummet to 30th - read: dead last - in the NHL this season, captain Jonathan Toews insists there's a bigger issue. "Our problem is we're making the number out to be a big deal," Toews said. "We want to win games and we want to be good on our power play. Right now, who cares about the stat? We know we have to be better. We have to keep working at it." Toews' sentiments notwithstanding, the Blackhawks' power outage as it results to its power play is downright scary. They have converted just one of their last 30 power plays and have tallied just five times on 57 opportunities (8.8 percent) this season. Heck, even Thursday's woeful opponent - the Columbus Blue Jackets - have a better success rate (9.2 percent). For now, the Blackhawks are concerned with snapping their three-game losing skid when they invade the Buckeye State to face the league's worst team. For its part, Columbus is still licking its wounds after suffering the third-largest margin of defeat in franchise history following Saturday's 9-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, CSCH, FSOH
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (8-4-3): While a lot of buzz has been generated with its ailing power play, Chicago's shorthanded efforts are leaving a bit to be desired as well. After successfully killing off 34 of 37 power plays, the Blackhawks have yielded seven goals in nine attempts. Stanley Cup hero Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa are averaging more than a point per game in their careers against the Blue Jackets.
ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (2-11-1): If one is looking for positives, well, Columbus captain Rick Nash sits one point shy of 500 for his career. Nash, who had an assist in the teams' first meeting this season, has recorded 49 points in 50 career games against the Blackhawks. The Blue Jackets also made a move on Wednesday, acquiring center Mark Letestu from the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 26-year-old Letestu had a productive rookie season last year, but has collected just one assist and two penalty minutes in 11 games this season.
OVERTIME:
1. Chicago D Duncan Keith returned to the ice in Tuesday's 3-0 loss to the St. Louis Blues. The 2010 Norris Trophy winner had missed three games with a hand injury, but promptly blocked four shots in the contest.
2. Prize acquisition Jeff Carter, who was optimistically hoping to return on Thursday, is more likely to rejoin Columbus this weekend.