The Chicago Blackhawks (21-24-9) return home and play the back end of a back-to-back against the Columbus Blue Jackets (25-20-7) at the United Center on Friday.
It’s the first of two meetings in the 2025-26 season between the Blackhawks and Blue Jackets, with both coming in the next six days before the Olympic break. The two teams will meet again at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on Feb. 4.
Last time out, the Blackhawks started their quick two-game set with a pitiful 6-2 defeat to the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena on Thursday. After Connor Murphy scored the opening goal, the Penguins recorded the game’s next six tallies. Connor Dewar (2), Ben Kindel, Egor Chinakhov, Anthony Mantha, and Ryan Shea were the goal scorers. Connor Bedard added his 21st goal of the season late in the third period.
With four consecutive losses, the Blackhawks are now eight points back of the Anaheim Ducks for the final wildcard playoff spot in the Western Conference. It’s been a brutal last couple of weeks for Chicago, with a 2-5-2 record over its past nine outings.
The Blue Jackets are coming off a 5-3 home win against the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday, giving them seven wins in their last eight games. Charlie Coyle, Kirill Marchenko, Eric Gudbranson, Sean Monahan, and Mathieu Olivier (EN) recorded the goals in the game. Columbus is 6-1-0 in seven appearances since Rick Bowness took over as head coach, replacing Dean Evason.
With 57 points through 52 games this season, the Blue Jackets currently sit 10 points behind the Boston Bruins for the final wildcard playoff spot out East. They’re sixth out of eight teams in the Metropolitan Division and trail the third-place New York Islanders by eight points.
Here’s everything else to note before the puck drops at 7:30 p.m. CT in Chicago.
Blackhawks Recap (Last Five Games)
Oliver Moore celebrated his 21st Birthday in style, scoring the game-winning goal in the shootout to lift the Blackhawks to a 4-3 upset win over Carolina. Moore also added an assist and got into a fight with Alexander Nikishin earlier in the game.
Arvid Soderblom had his best start in months, helping the Blackhawks steal a point against the red-hot Tampa Bay Lightning. Soderblom stopped 30 of 31 shots, while Chicago recorded only 18 of its own, in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Lightning. That’s now points in three straight games for the Hawks.
There goes the three-game point streak. Over their last seven outings, the Blackhawks have now scored only 11 goals. The offense was far too quiet once again in a 5-1 loss to the Florida Panthers.
Such a promising start gone to waste. The Blackhawks led 3-0 and were in firm control of the game, but couldn’t finish the job in the later stages. The Minnesota Wild rattled off three unanswered goals before the end of regulation and eventually beat the Blackhawks 4-3 in the shootout.
Well, that was ugly. Despicable defense in the second period led to a lopsided 6-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. That’s now four losses in a row for the Blackhawks.
Blackhawks Projected Lineup
Forward Lines
Frank Nazar — Connor Bedard – Teuvo Teravainen
Ryan Greene — Oliver Moore — Andre Burakovsky
Tyler Bertuzzi — Jason Dickinson — Ilya Mikheyev
Ryan Donato — Nick Foligno* — Colton Dach*
Defensive Pairings
Alex Vlasic-Louis Crevier
Wyatt Kaiser-Artyom Levshunov
Matt Grzelcyk-Connor Murphy
Scratched
F — Sam Lafferty, F — Landon Slaggert
Injured
F — Nick Foligno (undisclosed)
***
The Blackhawks did not hold a morning skate after traveling from Pittsburgh to Chicago on Thursday night. The forward lines and defensive pairings listed above are from the 6-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Captain Nick Foligno is questionable to play against Columbus after exiting Thursday’s game early with an undisclosed injury. Foligno has already missed 22 games this season.
It’s unknown whether Colton Dach will be in the lineup for the second consecutive game or if Landon Slaggert will return after being scratched in Pittsburgh.
Head coach Jeff Blashill will speak with the media regarding lineup decisions at 6:00 p.m. CT.
Blue Jackets Projected Lineup
Forward Lines
Mason Marchment — Adam Fantilli — Kirill Marchenko
Boone Jenner — Sean Monahan — Kent Johnson
Cole Sillinger — Charlie Coyle — Mathieu Olivier
Dimitri Voronkov — Isac Lundestrom — Miles Wood
Defensive Pairings
Zach Werenski-Damon Severson
Ivan Provorov-Denton Mateychuk
Egor Zamula-Erik Gudbranson
Scratched
D — Jake Christiansen, F — Danton Heinen
Injured
D — Dante Fabbro (lower body), D — Brendan Smith (knee surgery)
Projected Goaltending Matchup
Spencer Knight (15-14-7, 2.59 GAA, .910 Sv%, 3 SO) vs. Elvis Merzlikins (9-8-1, 3.76 GAA, .882 Sv%, 0 SO)
Knight will make his 37th start of the season for the Blackhawks. The 24-year-old allowed three goals on 23 shots faced in a shootout loss to the Minnesota Wild in his most recent start on Tuesday. Knight is 2-0-0 with a 2.00 GAA and .944 Sv% in two career games against Columbus.
Merzlikins will make his 20th start of the season for Columbus. The 31-year-old netminder stopped 24 of 27 shots to record the win over the Flyers in his last appearance on Wednesday. Merzlikins is 5-2-2 with a 2.90 GAA and .909 Sv% in nine career games against Chicago.
2024-25 Results vs. Blue Jackets
Chicago has earned points in 13 of their last 20 games against the Blue Jackets at United Center (13-7-0). The Blackhawks have also logged a 7-6-0 record against Columbus in the last 13 overall matchups.
12/01/24 — 6-3 L, United Center
02/22/25 — 5-1 L, Nationwide Arena
2025-26 Team Stats & Leaders
Chicago Blackhawks:
Goals — Tyler Bertuzzi (25)
Assists — Connor Bedard (29)
Points — Connor Bedard (50)
GF/GP — 2.65 (26th)
GA/GP — 3.13 (20th)
PP% — 19.6% (17th)
PK% — 85.6% (1st)
FOW% — 47.2% (28th)
Columbus Blue Jackets:
Goals — Kirill Marchenko & Zach Werenski (19)
Assists — Zach Werenski (38)
Points — Zach Werenski (57)
GF/GP — 3.04 (19th)
GA/GP — 3.29 (25th)
PP% — 19.4% (19th)
PK% — 76.2% (28th)
FOW% — 50.7% (12th)
How To Watch, Listen, & Game Info
Columbus Blue Jackets (25-20-7, 57 points) @ Chicago Blackhawks (21-24-9, 51 points)
7:30 p.m. CT — United Center
Head Coaches: Rick Bowness (CBJ), Jeff Blashill (CHI)
TV/Stream: CHSN (Ball/Pang), FDSNOH, NHLN, SN, TVAS
Radio: WGN 720 AM (Wiedeman/Konroyd)
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