Game Preview: Seth Jones Returns To Nationwide Arena As Blue Jackets Meet Blackhawks For First Time This Season

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

12–18–5 (29 points; .414%) ROSTER / SCHEDULE

7:00 P.M. – TUESDAY, JANUARY 11 NATIONWIDE ARENA  COLUMBUS, OH

BALLY SPORTS OHIO ESPN+ (Out of Market)

It's a date that many of the Columbus Blue Jackets faithful have had circled since the season scheduled was announced over the summer.

January 11th, 2022. Opponent: Chicago Blackhawks.

The return of Seth Jones to the arena, city, and team that he called home for six seasons.

The arena, city, and team that he did not want to call home a seventh season.

A chorus of jeers likely awaits Jones on Tuesday night, who was traded to the Blackhawks in July after letting Columbus management know he was not interested in resigning with the organization long term. The Blue Jackets got quite the haul in return, including Adam Boqvist, a draft pick that was flipped for Jake Bean, and another draft pick that was used on Cole Sillinger. (Columbus also owns Chicago's first-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, provided it's not in the top two.) 

All three players have been key for the Blue Jackets this season, who, at 16-16-1, have spent only one game this season under .500. That far exceeds the expectations from most experts, who had predicted a near-last place finish for Columbus.

RE: CHICAGO

After losing nine straight games to start the season, it seemed as if the Blackhawks had figured things out in November. They won four straight, and turned an 0-7-2 start into an 11-15-2 record by the middle of December. The wheels have fallen off again in recent weeks though, with Chicago snapping a six-game losing streak Saturday against the Vegas Golden Knights.

The losing streak was largely a part of struggling blue line play and poor goaltending. They gave up four or more goals in five of the six games, including allowing ten power play goals on just 26 attempts. 

Chicago's offense is a simple one: keep Patrick Kane and Alex Debrincat away from the puck, and the game is yours for the taking. Kane has just seven goals but if third on the team in goals and leads the team with 31 points. For the season, the Blackhawks are just 2-9-1 when Kane is held without a point. Meanwhile, Debrincat has 21 goals, leading the Chicago scoring punch by a wide margin. Jones, who has three goals and 22 assists for 25 points, is the only other Blackhawk with 16 or more points. 

The Blackhawks also rank tied for 31st in the league in shots per game, ahead of only the Arizona Coyotes and tied with the Seattle Kraken at 28.1. For the Blue Jackets, who allow nearly 35 shots a night (which ranks 31st in the league in shots allowed), that may spell an opportunity to limit the number of shots against expected starter Joonas Korpisalo.

STORYLINES

• AN IMPORTANT NIGHT FOR BOQVIST, TOO.
  It's Jones return to Columbus, sure, but it's also Adam Boqvist's first game against the team that drafted him 8th overall in the 2018 NHL Draft — and it's the 21-year-old defenseman's 100th career game. Boqvist is continuing to develop as a player, and you can bet he'll want to show his former team that development.
   
• POWER OF THE POWER PLAY 
  The Blackhawks struggling penalty kill could prove to be a catalyst in continuing to aid the Blue Jackets' power play woes. Columbus' top power play unit of Jakub Voracek, Patrik Laine, Boone Jenner, Oliver Bjorkstrand, and Zach Werenski was together in Saturday's win for the first time in over two months, and connected in their first opportunity of the night. With Chicago allowing 15 goals over their last 35 penalty kills, it'll be important for Columbus to draw a few opportunities on the man-advantage.
   
• YOUNG GUNS RELOADING?
  Sillinger and Yegor Chinakhov have been quiet, but both players are showing their growth in some under-the-radar ways. Chinakhov had the game-winning goal Saturday, snapping a 13-game pointless streak. Sillinger, meanwhile, won a career-high nine faceoffs Saturday in the win over the New Jersey Devils and had an even 14:00 minutes of ice time — within 30 seconds of his highest time on ice since November 20th. He hasn't scored a goal in ten games — he's due. 

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