Game Preview: Columbus Heads Into Clash With The Chicago Blackhawks Ahead Of Christmas Break

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

7–20–4 (18 points; .290%) ROSTER / SCHEDULE

8:30 P.M. – Friday, December 23 UNITED CENTER  CHICAGO, IL

BALLY SPORTS OHIO ESPN+ (Out of Market)

It's a second consecutive matchup between two NHL bottom-feeders on Friday night when the Columbus Blue Jackets meet the Chicago Blackhawks before the NHL's much-needed three-day Christmas Break from Dec. 24 through Dec. 26.

Entering Friday's contest at the United Center, Columbus looks to shake their second five-game losing streak this season, which ties a season-long. The Blue Jackets fell to the Philadelphia Flyers, 5-3, on Tuesday at Wells Fargo Center after winning the previous two matchups at Nationwide Arena. Columbus also lost five straight games from Oct. 25 through Nov. 5.

Meanwhile, the Blackhawks are in the midst of their second eight-game losing streak and have lost 16 of 17 games.

Columbus activated Adam Boqvist off injured reserve (foot) on Thursday, and Cole Sillinger was placed on injured reserve retroactively to Dec. 17.

Here's what to know when the Blue Jackets and Blackhawks drop the puck in the Windy City:

TALKING POINTS: CHI

• Headed by first-year coach, and former Blue Jackets captain, Luke Richardson (2002-06 — captain, 2005-06), Chicago got off to a surprising 4-2-0 start before the wheels started to come off and are 3-18-4 since. To be fair, they weren't expected to contend as they are in the middle of a full-on rebuild. They're hot on the heels for the Conner Bedard sweepstakes, right there with Columbus, as Chicago comes in at the very bottom of the NHL standings, with the Jackets just four points ahead. Chicago has been outscored 42-18 in their last 10 games, and are 1-9-0 in that stretch.
   
• Former Blue Jacket, Max Domi (21 points — 10 goals, 11 assists), found a home with the Blackhawks over the off-season on a one-year, $3 million deal. There's a good chance he could be flipped at the trade deadline for the second consecutive season. He's currently leading the Blackhawks with 10 goals on the season as he's been getting first-line minutes alongside Patrik Kane (22 points — four goals, 18 assists), who leads the Hawks in points and assists.
   
• Kane and Jonathan Toews (17 points — 10 goals, seven assists) most recently played in their 1,000th career game together on Sunday, Dec. 18. As the trade deadline grows closer, speculation about where either could end up should only intensify as general manager Kyle Davidson continues to shape the Hawks' rebuild for the future. Toews is No. 1 among all qualified players with a 65.3 face-off percentage. The Hawks are No. 1 in that category across the league (56.6%).
   
• It will be only the second opportunity for Blue Jackets fans to see another familiar face in Seth Jones since he left for the Hawks. While Jones faced his former club last season in Chicago when the two teams met on Feb. 17—a 7-4 Blue Jackets win—he missed the contest in Columbus on Jan. 11—a 4-2 Blue Jackets loss—due to a positive COVID test. Both teams square off at 1:00 pm ET on New Year's Eve at Nationwide Arena, so that figures to be the chance for Jones to finally make his Columbus return.

CBJ

• A New No. 1
  Goaltender Daniil Tarasov (2-7-1, 3.13 GAA, .913 SV%) has been the de facto No. 1 goalie while Joonas Korpisalo (4-5-1, 3.53 GAA, .903 SV%) recovered from a lower-body injury and Elvis Merzlikins (4-8-0, 4.68 GAA, .864 SV%) is recovering from an illness that kept him out of Tuesday's planned start against the Flyers. Tarasov has made four consecutive starts (0-4-0, 3.07 GAA, .913 SV%) but has played very well for the most part. Most notably in a 2-1 loss to the Dallas Stars on Dec. 19 in which his GSAx was 2.96 per MoneyPuck. Korpisalo was activated off injured reserve on Thursday and Jet Greaves was sent back to Cleveland. Merzlikins did not make the trip to Chicago.
   
• New First Line Chemistry
  Over the past two games, we've seen Kent Johnson (16 points — eight goals, eight assists) center the top line with leading-scorer Johnny Gaudreau (34— points, 10 goals, 24 assists) and Patrik Laine (16 points — nine goals, seven assists), while second-leading point-scorer Boone Jenner (22 points — 11 goals, 11 assists) recovers from a broken thumb. Johnson scored a goal late in Monday's loss to the Stars and then the 13-91-29 trio combined on Johnson's eighth goal of the season in Tuesday's loss against the Flyers. In a season going sideways on the ice, it's a great opportunity for Johnson to show off his skillset at center and find offensive chemistry with two elite wingers.
   
• Another Storyline To Watch
  It's no secret what's potentially on the line in tonight's matchup, and really every game the rest of the way for both teams this season. While Chicago is currently staring at the most ping pong balls in the upcoming draft lottery for a chance at the top prize, the Jackets' odds are nearly as good as Chicago's at landing the first pick.

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Updated: 7:05 a.m. // Subject to Change