PREVIEW: Blue Jackets try to keep momentum rolling in Chicago - BlueJackets.com

BLUE JACKETS (7-5-3) vs. BLACKHAWKS (6-5-4) 

Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, United Center, Chicago 

TV: FOX Sports Ohio, CBJ app, FOX Sports Go app 

Radio: Blue Jackets radio network (97.1 The Fan flagship) 

Thursday night's come-from-behind 6-5 victory over Chicago brought something to the Blue Jackets that the team hadn't had much of this season -- joy. 

Just about every win in the early season has been a slog as Columbus has struggled to find its best game, each day has seemed to bring its own soap opera, and it's all unfolded amid a worldwide pandemic has made it hard for new teammates to get to know one another like they would in a normal season.

But as the Blue Jackets rallied multiple times and eventually won Thursday with a pair of goals in the last three minutes, including Kevin Stenlund's go-ahead goal with 1:14 to go, there was a different vibe that the team had been looking for all season.  

"It was nice to see themselves have a few laughs after the game in the locker room," head coach John Tortorella said after the team's second straight win. "Hopefully that stuff gets a little contagious and we loosen up and play." 

"I think it's really the first time this year with the comeback win and how crazy that third period was, you saw energy on the bench, you saw the energy on the ice when we scored those goals," Michael Del Zotto added. "Hopefully last night was a trend in the right direction for us and we can continue that emotion rolling through here." 

For Tortorella, the most encouraging sign was that the Blue Jackets, who have been marked by their defensive identity in past years, were able to outscore a team to earn the victory. But there was also excitement in the way the team created offense throughout the game, with Columbus posting a 43-26 edge in shots on goal in the game, not to mention a 59-29 edge in shot attempts at 5-on-5 and a 2.95-1.77 edge in expected goals per Natural Stat Trick. 

"It's just crazy what happens," Tortorella said. "They end up going bang, bang to go up 2-1 early in the second period, and that's when we started playing. From that point on, although they scored some goals, I thought we were a much better hockey club as far as making plays, having the willingness to make plays. Our forecheck was better, our chances were better, our chances against throughout the rest of the game from that point." 

The million dollar question, though, seems to be if the Blue Jackets will be able to keep the momentum going tonight in the rematch with the Blackhawks. When asked Friday if he had a sense of the team can build on such a wild and thrilling win, he said the proof will be in the pudding. 

"Talk to me in five games and see where we are then," he said with a laugh. "If we win our next five, it carried over. If we are still struggling and inconsistent, I'm not so sure it did. All you can do is hope. They had a good practice today.  

"You know, it hasn't been a real lot of fun this year with some of the stuff rolling around on us and just the inconsistency. But I give our guys credit. We have still kept ourselves above the water level and stayed with it, stayed in the hunt here. Hopefully some other good signs happen tomorrow night." 

Know the Foe  

As much fun as the Blue Jackets had coming from behind to get the win over the Blackhawks, the mood was much different on the other side after Chicago felt it let one get away. 

"Just got to learn how to close out those games," star winger Patrick Kane said after the loss. "In a good position there going into the third, up one and score on the power play. Just got to learn to shut down the game, not give them much and then you can play good defense. … Obviously a disappointing loss." 

"A lot of lessons we can learn from tonight, no question," head coach Jeremy Colliton added. 

The surprise for the Blackhawks was that the team defense went wobbly after a 10-game stretch in which Chicago had allowed just 21 goals and as a result had a 5-1-4 record in that span that put the team right back into the Central Division race after a 0-3-1 start that featured 20 goals allowed in four games. 

The CBJ offensive explosion dinged the stats of rookie netminder Kevin Lankinen, who had a 2.17 GAA and .933 save percentage entering the game and now is at 2.55/.924 in 10 starts (5-2-3). If the Hawks decide to make a change in net, backup Malcolm Subban is 1-1-1 with a 2.93 GAA and .913 save percentage. 

Kane continued to be a thorn in the CBJ side with a goal and two assists Friday night, giving him a 21-40-61 line in 49 career games against Columbus. This year, he has seven goals and 13 assists for 20 points thus far, placing him fourth in the league in scoring and yet again an early-season Hart Trophy contender. 

Alex DeBrincat has been red-hot to start the season even with an early trip to the COVID protocol list, as he has a 7-8-15 line in 11 games and scored Thursday night, while Dominik Kubalik also has 12 points with three goals and nine helpers. Swiss rookie Pius Suter also tallied Thursday and his six goals lead all NHL rookies.  

Bowling Green product Ryan Carpenter remained on the COVID absences list Friday, while Dublin native Connor Murphy is expected to miss the game with a hip injury. 

3 Keys to the Game  

Keep the confidence going: Thursday night's win could be a season-changer for Columbus -- but only if the Blue Jackets build on it. It will be interesting to see if the confidence on the puck and in creating offense shows up again.

Eliminate the breakdowns: Easier said than done, of course, but the first three Chicago goals Thursday were scored on in-zone defensive breakdowns. Columbus was solid otherwise but has some things to clean up. 

Win special teams: Chicago's power play has tallied in all but two games this year and is placed third in the league at 36.2 percent. Meanwhile, Columbus got a season-high two power-play goals Thursday to end a streak of 14 straight kills by the Blackhawks. This will be a huge part of the game. 

Of Note 

Oliver Bjorkstrand has a 4-8-12 line in the past 13 games and leads the squad on the season with those 12 points. … Coming off a two-goal game, Jack Roslovic has a career-long six-game point streak (4-5-9) and has three multipoint showings in the last four contests. … Seth Jones has a five-game point streak (1-5-6) with at least one point in every game this month. He is one game shy of tying a career-long point streak. … Cam Atkinson has scored shorthanded goals in each of the last two games and has three on the season and 15 in his career, a CBJ franchise record. … Stenlund is on a four-game point streak (2-3-5) and has a point in each of his four games this year. … Columbus has scored first in 11 of 15 games and outscored teams 17-8 in first period. … Columbus is 2-1 in the United Center this season after being 2-8-2 in the building over the previous nine seasons. 

Projected Lineup 

(Subject to change) 

Patrik Laine - Jack Roslovic - Cam Atkinson

Max Domi - Kevin Stenlund - Oliver Bjorkstrand

Eric Robinson - Riley Nash - Nick Foligno

Mikhail Grigorenko - Boone Jenner - Alexandre Texier

Zach Werenski - Seth Jones

Vladislav Gavrikov - David Savard

Michael Del Zotto - Andrew Peeke

Joonas Korpisalo OR Elvis Merzlikins

Scratches: Scott Harrington, Dean Kukan, Gabriel Carlsson, Matiss Kivlenieks (lower body, day to day) 

Taxi squad: Stefan Matteau, Liam Foudy, Emil Bemstrom, Adam Clendening, Cam Johnson 

Injured reserve: Gus Nyquist (shoulder, out 5-6 months as of November), Brandon Dubinsky (wrist, LTIR) 

Roster report: Tortorella said Werenski is "good to go," meaning he should be activated from injured reserve and return to the lineup Saturday, likely in place of Harrington. A corresponding roster move will have to take place to move him to the active roster. The starting goaltender will be announced Saturday during media availabilities; Korpisalo has started the last four games with Merzlikins not dressing in three of those games because of an upper-body injury.

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