Chicago Blackhawks face lowly Columbus Blue Jackets - NHL Preview
Chicago Blackhawks have a great opportunity to continue their winning run while also cutting the gap between themselves and rivals Nashville Predators on Tuesday, March 20, 2012 when they face the league worst Columbus Blue Jackets at the Nationwide Arena.
The Blackhawks have bounced right back from their poor performances last month and are challenging once again for home ice advantage going into the playoffs.
Trailing division rivals Nashville Predators by four points the Blackhawks have a great opportunity to close that gap and enter the playoff rounds with home ice advantage.
Chicago currently lie sixth in the Western Conference with 88-points.
Columbus on the other hand have nothing left to play for and face one of the toughest runs to end the regular season.
The Blue Jackets though still give their all in games and at the start of the month put together a run of brilliant results.
They ended a four-game losing streak on Sunday against the Calgary Flames in a low scoring 2-1 shootout victory.
Columbus lie bottom of the Western Conference with just 53 points and are already eliminated from playoff contention.
Blackhawks (40-25-8, 88 pts)
Chicago have been brilliant lately and are on a three-game winning run.
The Blackhawks have scored nine goals in their last two games while allowing the opposition only three as they return back in contention for a fourth place finish.
Chicago crushed Washington Capitals 5-2 on Sunday in one of their best performances. The Blackhawks completely dominated proceedings and built on the momentum gained by taking an early first period lead.
Coach Joel Quenneville had nothing but praise for his players after the game.
"They did a great job. Scoring early again was big for us, as well. It's a pretty big assignment. (Alex Ovechkin's) been playing well and their team has been dangerous lately, and I thought that line was very good. When that line's out there against (top)
teams, if they can spend some offensive zone time in spurts, then sometimes it's easy to cash in against top guys."
Blue Jackets (23-42-7, 53 pts)
Columbus are already eliminated from playoff contention and have nothing left to play for. However, they have not given up fighting in each and every game.
The Blue Jackets upset the Calgary Flames on Sunday with a 2-1 shootout victory which ended a four-game losing streak.
However, they face a much tougher opponent in the Chicago Blackhawks and it is difficult to see a positive result for Columbus in this encounter.
Predictions
Chicago will win.
Sum of goals will be more than six.
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