© Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
CHI:
CBJ:
10-11-4
ROAD / HOME
14-8-4
2.70
GOALS FOR
3.09
3.14
GOALS AGAINST
3.20
19.5%
POWER PLAY
19.9%
85.6%
PENALTY KILL
76.9%
24.8
SHOTS FOR
30.0
29.6
SHOTS AGAINST
30.4
47.1%
FACEOFF %
50.8%
CHICAGO: LAST THREE GAMES
THU, 1/29
@ Penguins
L, 6-2
FRI, 1/30
vs. Blue Jackets
L, 4-2
MON, 2/2
vs. Sharks
W, 6-3
CHICAGO: TEAM LEADERS
GOALS
Tyler Bertuzzi
25
ASSISTS
Connor Bedard
30
POINTS
Connor Bedard
53
ODDS & PROJECTIONS
CBJ WIN PER MONEYPUCK:
63%
CBJ ODDS PER DRAFTKINGS:
-148
Owners of the longest winning streak in the NHL, the Columbus Blue Jackets (28-20-7) will look to make it seven straight wins Wednesday night when they face the Chicago Blackhawks (22-25-9) in the final game before the Olympic break.
It’s the second meeting in less than a week between the two teams.
The Blue Jackets extended the streak to six Tuesday night with a 3-0 win over the New Jersey Devils, and are now 10-1-0 in their last 11 games.
Here are five things to know before the 7:00 p.m. puck-drop at Nationwide Arena:
Chicago ended a five-game losing streak Monday night with a 6-3 win over the San Jose Sharks. Included in that losing streak was a 4-2 loss to the Blue Jackets on Friday night. … The Blackhawks have the best penalty kill in the league (85.6%). … Nick Foligno is expected to be in the lineup after missing last week’s game against Columbus with an injury.
Barring any last-minute setbacks, Kirill Marchenko appears to be back in the lineup after missing Tuesday night’s game with an illness. He had points in four straight games (one goal, four assists) before the absence and has seven points (four goals, three assists) in seven career games against the Blackhawks.
Jet Greaves, who has won his last five decisions and is 4-0-0 under new head coach Rick Bowness, gets the start. He’s 17-12-6 on the season with a 2.69 goals against average and .908 save percentage and will be going against the Blackhawks for the first time in his career.
In Columbus’ nine games under Bowness, no forward has more points than Charlie Coyle. He has eight goals and six assists (14 points) since Jan. 12 and continues to be a catalyst on the most consistent line (alongside Cole Sillinger and Mathieu Olivier) the Blue Jackets have had running as of late.
With Marchenko back into the top spot on the wing, Isac Lundeström returns to the fourth line and takes the place of Danton Heinen, who is a healthy scratch. No other skater changes are expected. Here are the complete lineup projections:
LW
C
RW
17
Mason Marchment
19
Adam Fantilli
86
Kirill Marchenko
10
Dmitri Voronkov
23
Sean Monahan
91
Kent Johnson
4
Cole Sillinger
3
Charlie Coyle
24
Mathieu Olivier
21
Isac Lundeström
38
Boone Jenner
11
Miles Wood
LD
RD
8
Zach Werenski
78
Damon Severson
9
Ivan Provorov
5
Denton Mateychuk
15
Dante Fabbro
44
Erik Gudbranson
Starting Goalie
Back-Up
73
Jet Greaves
90
Elvis Merzlikins
