Blue Jackets and Blackhawks Face Off with Playoff Implications
Columbus, Ohio – The Columbus Blue Jackets and Chicago Blackhawks met in NHL action on Wednesday, , at Nationwide Arena, with the Blue Jackets emerging victorious 3-0, according to reports. The game, broadcast on ESPN+, saw Columbus continue its strong push in the Eastern Conference while Chicago sought to build momentum before the Olympic break.
As of today, , the Blue Jackets hold a record of 28-20-7, placing them ninth in the Eastern Conference with 63 points. The Blackhawks, with a record of 22-25-9 and 53 points, are 12th in the Western Conference.
The Blue Jackets have been on a recent hot streak, winning 10 of their last 11 games and entering Wednesday’s contest on a six-game winning streak. This included a previous win against the Blackhawks earlier in the week. Columbus has historically dominated this series, winning seven consecutive games overall and four straight at Nationwide Arena, with each home victory secured by a margin of two or more goals.
Key Players to Watch
Zachary Werenski has been a driving force for the Blue Jackets’ offense this season, accumulating 61 points in 51 games. Kirill Marchenko and Charlie Coyle are also significant contributors, each with 46 total points. Marchenko has 19 goals and 27 assists, while Coyle has 25 assists. Jet Greaves has been solid in net for Columbus, posting a 17-12-6 record with 944 saves and allowing 96 goals in 36 games.
For the Blackhawks, Connor Bedard leads the team in scoring with 52 total points (23 goals and 29 assists) in 43 games. Tyler Bertuzzi has also been a key offensive player, recording 42 total points with 25 goals and 17 assists. Andre Burakovsky has added 10 goals and 20 assists. Spencer Knight has a 16-15-7 record in 38 games, allowing 99 goals and recording 987 saves, boasting a .909 save percentage.
Game Details and Viewing Information
The game began at 7:00 p.m. ET at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Fans were able to stream the game live on ESPN+. According to reports, tickets were also available for purchase on StubHub.
Betting Odds
BetMGM provided betting odds for the game. The Blue Jackets were favored on the moneyline at -150, while the Blackhawks were underdogs at +125. The puck line favored Columbus at -1.5 (+155), with Chicago at +1.5 (-190). The total was set at 6, with over/under odds of -120 and +100, respectively.
Injury Reports
The Blue Jackets entered the game with Kirill Marchenko listed as day-to-day due to illness and Brendan Smith out with a leg injury. The Blackhawks were without Shea Weber for the season due to an ankle injury.
Statistical Overview
The Blue Jackets are currently averaging 3.09 goals per game (17th in the NHL) while allowing 3.20 goals per game (22nd). They average 29.7 shots per game (5th) and allow 30.3 shots per game (30th). Their power play conversion rate is 19.85% (18th) and their penalty kill percentage is 76.92% (27th).
The Blackhawks are averaging 2.70 goals per game (26th) and allowing 3.14 goals per game (19th). They average 24.8 shots per game (32nd) and allow 29.6 shots per game (25th). Their power play conversion rate is 19.50% (19th), and their penalty kill percentage leads the league at 85.55%.
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