Game #9 Preview: First-place Blue Jackets meet old foe

Friday, January 29, 2020 - 8:00 EST
United Center - Chicago, IL
TV: Fox Sports Ohio - Radio: WBNS FM
Opponent’s Blog: Second City Hockey

Columbus Blue Jackets (3-2-3, 9 points, 1st Central)

@

Chicago Blackhawks (2-3-3, 7 points, 6th Central)

Fresh off a win against the Florida Panthers Thursday night at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, the first place Blue Jackets extended their points streak to six games as they hit the road to face the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center. The Blackhawks (2-0-3) come in with points in five-straight, but two consecutive losses after dropping their two-game set at the Nashville Predators on Tuesday in overtime 3-2 and in shootout Wednesday 2-1.

Player to Watch

Alexandre Texier

Alexandre Texier won the game with a crazy goal in the shootout last night and in general, the dude has been really, really good to start the year! He leads the team with four goals and six points and it’s nice to see the young fun guy getting off to the nice start. Especially a young center on the club.

Jackets Notes

After Thursday’s win, Columbus improved to 1-2-3 when scoring first. ... Columbus had 27 hits in their game last night, with 18 coming in the first period. ... Per Jeff Svoboda, tonight is John Tortorella’s 400th game as coach behind the Blue Jackets bench. ... Since taking over, he has 212 wins, the most for any Blue Jackets coach. ... The next goals for Cam Atkinson and Nick Foligno will be their 200th career tally respectively. ... Foligno has 138 with the Blue Jackets, 61 with the Ottawa Senators. ... Seth Jones is one assist away from 200 for his career and he is currently sitting on 196 career points with the Blue Jackets. ... The Jackets are 2-8-2 in the last 12 games at the United Center.

The Other Bench

The Blackhawks are in the middle of a transitional phase and gone is goaltender Corey Crawford as he signed with the Devils, but ended up retiring just before game begun a few weeks ago. ... Goaltender Kevin Lankinen (2-0-2, 2.18 GAA, .931 SV% ) made his NHL debut this season and has had some nice starts of late, winning on Sunday, 6-2, against the Detroit Red Wings, and helping the Hawks notch points during the week in Nashville including a 42-save effort in Wednesday’s 2-1 shootout loss. ... Chicago’s power play is converting at a blistering rate to start the season (36.0%). ... The Blackhawks are without Adam Boqvist (COVID Protocol procedures), Alex DeBrincat (COVID Protocol procedures), Alexander Nylander (knee surgery), Brent Seabrook (lower back), Jonathan Toews (undisclosed illness), Kirby Dach (wrist surgery), and Lucas Wallmark (COVID Protocol procedures).

Season Series

01/29/2021 CBJ @ CHI
01/31/2021 CBJ @ CHI
02/11/2021 CHI @ CBJ
02/13/2021 CHI @ CBJ
02/23/2021 CHI @ CBJ
02/25/2021 CHI @ CBJ
04/10/2021 CHI @ CBJ
04/12/2021 CHI @ CBJ

Stats

Projected Lineups