Game #7 Preview: Jackets clash with Hawks, look to push win streak to three

Friday, October 18, 2019 – 8:30 EST
United Center, Chicago, Illinois
TV: Fox Sports Ohio; Radio: 102.5 FM
Opponent’s Blog: Second City Hockey

Columbus Blue Jackets (3-3-0, 6 points, 5th Metro, 10th East)

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Chicago Blackhawks (1-2-1, 3 points, 5th Central, 13th West)

Coming off one of their most complete games of the season, a 3-2 win over the Stars on Wednesday, the Blue Jackets enter play Friday night at the United Center on a two game win streak, and looking for their fourth win in give games.

The Blackhawks last played on Monday, winning their first game of the season over the surprising Oilers 3-1.

Player to Watch

Joonas Korpisalo (3-2-0, 2.60, .903) is in a clear zone right now and I would expect him to draw the start tonight. Korpisalo is showing what he can do with consistent playing time, which lends credence to the narrative that consistent play is what he needs to play well on a nightly basis. He’s looking confident in net and the Jackets are going to ride the hot hand. John Tortorella said as much following Wednesday’s win.

Korpisalo made 30 saves in the win. The Pori, Finland native has back-to-back 30 save wins and is 2-1-0 with a 2.02 GAA and .931 SV% in his last three games.

— CBJ Public Relations (@BlueJacketsPR) October 17, 2019

With tonight’s game the first of a back-to-back — Columbus faces the Islanders tomorrow night in Columbus — Saturday’s game could be the chance for Elvis Merzlikins (0-1-0, 7.00, .825) to earn his second start of the season, and first at home.

Jackets Notes

Tonight marks the Columbus dads trip into Chicago. … With his goal against the Stars, it was Alexander Wennberg’s first 5v5 goal since March 20, 2018 against the Rangers. … Furthermore on Wennberg, the six-year veteran leads the club in points (4-1—3) in the early going. … In his only career outing against the Blackhawks, Korpisalo allowed five goals in a 5-1 loss Oct. 7, 2017 in Chicago. … Will Josh Anderson be a go?

Thanks for the plug, Hedge.

Perfect timing as well.

Josh Anderson has joined the Jackets on the ice for a full team practice. It’s the first he’s practiced with the team since going on IR with an upper-back injury. https://t.co/O8WvcPSTFh

— Henry Palattella (@HellaPalattella) October 17, 2019

Some extra tidbits from Blue Jackets insider Jeff Svoboda at Blue Jackets.com:

Boone Jenner comes into play one point from 200 (102-97) in his NHL career. … Oliver Bjorkstrand still needs just one more point for career number 100 (46-53). … Riley Nash is also coming up on a career milestone, as he is two assists from 100 all-time. … Nick Foligno is coming up on 500 career games with the Blue Jackets (496), while David Savard is five from the milestone. … Former Blue Jackets defenseman Rostislav Klesla is the career goal scoring leader among defenseman with 41 goals. … Savard and Zach Werenski are one away from tying the mark, and Seth Jones is two away.

The Other Bench

The Blackhawks are trying to put aside last year’s disappointing season that saw them miss the playoffs for the second consecutive year. … Jeremy Colliton is in his first full season behind the bench for Chicago. … Goaltender Robin Lehner, last year’s Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy winner, signed over the offseason for a one-year deal after being pried away from the Islanders. … Chicago opened the season Oct. 4 in Prague with a 4-3 loss to the Flyers, followed up by a five day layoff before playing the Sharks. … They are in the midst of a seven-game homestand. … Corey Crawford (1-2-0, 3.41, .900) has started three of the four games, with Robin Lehner (0-0-1, 2.95, .909) appearing in just one game, a 3-2 overtime loss to the Jets last Saturday. … Former AAA Blue Jackets alum Connor Murphy has appeared in three games for the Blackhawks and has not recorded a point yet.

Here’s a quote from Colliton via Carter Baum of Blackhawks.com:

“They’re going to work, they’re going to defend hard. They still have a pretty good team,” They have a couple guys who are tough to play against and I think their mentality that they had last year that allowed them to go as far as they did in the playoffs, it’s still there. It’ll be a good test. We have to be ready.”

Season Series

10/18/2019 CBJ @ CHI
12/29/2019 CHI @ CBJ

Stats

Projected Lineups