4/16 NHL columbus @ chicago

[Spartacus]

Blue Jackets visit Blackhawks in division matchup

The Blackhawks will be fighting to end a 5-game losing skid when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets Sunday at United Center.

Sporting a 24-43-13 overall record and a 9-17-4 mark within the division, the Blackhawks aim to knock the Blue Jackets (14-14-3 in the division) for a loss.

The line opened at 120 in favor of the Blackhawks. The total opened at 6.

Gerard Gallant's troops hosted Chicago last game and came away with a 5-2 win, a game that went over 6. Oddsmakers had them as favorites in that one.

With the league's #29-ranked offence, Chicago either needs a breakout game or it's up to the defence to keep them in this one. The Blackhawks average just 2.6 goals per game.

 

[Spartacus]

Based on how they're finishing up the season, the Columbus Blue Jackets probably cannot wait for training camp to open in September.

The Blue Jackets look to continue arguably the most successful stretch in franchise history when they wrap up a home-and-home series with the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center.

Columbus defeated Chicago 5-2 at home on Saturday for its eighth win in 11 games. David Vyborny scored twice in the third period to snap a 2-2 deadlock, and assisted on Rick Nash's goal with less than three minutes remaining.

Besides setting a new franchise record for most points in a season with 72, the Blue Jackets have records for wins (34) and goals scored (215) with two games remaining.

"It's nice breaking the record, but we're just trying to gain confidence for next year," coach Gerard Gallant said after a crowd of 16,555 gave his team a standing ovation for most of the final minute of play. "We are a much better team than 72 points."

After this contest, the Blue Jackets host Pacific Division-leading Dallas on Tuesday in the season finale.

"It's very nice to finish with the best-ever season here, especially after the bad start," Vyborny said. "We still have two more games left and we'll try our best to get 76 points."

In their first 35 games, the Blue Jackets went just 9-25-1 and were outscored 128-69. A 4-3 win over Chicago on Dec. 26 started Columbus on its first three-game winning streak of the season.

Over the last 45 contests, Columbus has gone 25-17-3 including a franchise-record six-game winning streak from March 25-April 3.

Four of those victories came against playoff-bound Calgary, Detroit, San Jose and Nashville.

Brandon Bochenski and Kyle Calder scored Saturday for Chicago, which lost its fifth straight and 12th in 15 games.

"We had our chances," Chicago coach Trent Yawney said. "When it was tied we just didn't finish our chances off and they did. Pretty simple."

Chicago failed to make the postseason for the seventh time in eight seasons, and has the league's longest championship drought since last winning the Stanley Cup in 1961.

The Blackhawks will finish its season on Tuesday against St. Louis -- the only team worse than them in the Central Division. at home.