Blackhawks Game #61: Battling the Blue Jackets

The Chicago Blackhawks (15-41-4) will host the Columbus Blue Jackets (19-30-10) tonight at the United Center. Puck drop is set for 7pm.

Previously on Blackhawks Hockey:

The Blackhawks weren’t much of a matchup against the Colorado Avalanche, falling 5-0 in a game where they played well for the first period but fell apart as the Avs’ talent took over.

How to Watch and Listen

TV: NBC Sports Chicago
Radio: WGN 720

Scouting the Opponent & Miscellaneous Musings

The Blackhawks head into tonight’s game on a five-game losing streak, exacerbated by a tough 5-0 loss where Chicago looked frustrated not only at the result, but occasionally at one another.

Now they face Columbus, who is also not going to be playoff eligible and is beginning to look ahead at the draft lottery. The Blue Jackets situation is similar with a building block in Adam Fantilli, but enough issues with the Mike Babcock fiasco, coupled with the firing of their general manager a few weeks back. Fantilli is currently out with a leg injury and won’t be available tonight to take on Bedard and the Blackhawks.

The Blackhawks, for all their losing, has at least had consistency everywhere else.

Tonight starts a stretch of games against teams vying for favorable lottery sitting, where the Blackhawks and Sharks seem the favorite to be in the one-two spot with the final order not being determined until season’s end.

For the Hawks, they’ve seen Connor Bedard continue his strong play and prospects dominating outside of Chicago which gives additional hope for what’s coming in the future. With just 21 games remaining after tonight, it’s the future of what could be that keeps Blackhawks fans tuning in and watching.

That future is certainly bright–tonight continues seeing Chicago continuing its march through the season, but also playing with pride and fight on despite the season being another in the rebuild.

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