Game Day #23: Blue Jackets Look For Points In Sixth Straight Game, Face Bedard And The Blackhawks To Start Key Road Trip

It will be hard to top the intensity of Friday's 5-2 win over the Calgary Flames.

But that's okay.

Because right now, it's about just winning games.

"We're a little over .500, but we're pushing for playoffs here," said Mathieu Olivier following Friday's victory.

The Blue Jackets can keep that push going Sunday afternoon when they battle Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks. It's another early, 3:00 p.m. puck drop — the second in three days for Columbus.

A look at the standings shows the playoff push Olivier referenced: the Blue Jackets currently sit four points from the second wildcard, but have played three less games than the Philadelphia Flyers, who currently own the last spot. Columbus also has at least two less gamed played than the five teams sandwiched between the Flyers and Jackets.

By percentage point, the Blue Jackets are currently in the 'first team out' role. 

"This is the time of year that teams separate from others," said Olivier. "This is where we gotta bear down and keep going."

Columbus can also pick up points in a sixth straight game for the first time since January of 2021, when they had a 4-0-3 run over a seven-game stretch at the beginning of the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season.

Here's what else to know when Columbus and Chicago square off for the first time this season:

• RE: Chicago
  Petr Mrazek (2.66 goals against and .911 save percentage in 17 starts this season) gets the start between the pipes for the Blackhawks. ... Nick Foligno, the former Columbus captain who now has the same role with the Blackhawks, will be in the lineup. But another former Jacket — Seth Jones — will not be. The old linemate of Zach Werenski is dealing with an injury that will keep him out for at least a few more weeks. ... Chicago has won three of their last four at home, including regulation wins over the Florida Panthers (11/21) and Dallas Stars (11/27).
   
• Werenski nearly picked up his second straight Gordie Howe Hat Trick in Friday's victory, but fortunately didn't drop the gloves for the second time in three nights. Instead, Werenski had to "settle" for a goal and an assist — two-thirds of the GHHT — and for stretching his assists streak to seven games, a new franchise record for defensemen for assists streak in the game. Werenski is finding the back of the net as well, tied for the NHL lead among defensemen with eight goals this season.
   
• Speaking of streaking: Kent Johnson scored his fifth goal of the season in Friday's win and now has a stat line of 5-6-11 through his first eight games of the season. He has registered at least one point in every game he's played in and is averaging 4.79 points per 60 minutes played. Another streaker: Dmitri Voronkov, who has points in five straight games, including two multi-point games.
   
• After missing Friday's win feeling under the weather, Daniil Tarasov is ready to rejoin the clue. Here are the projected lineups for Sunday's tilt: