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Blue Jackets play host to Blackhawks

Wed 26th, March 2008

(Sports Network) - A pair of teams on the outside of the Western Conference playoff picture will meet tonight, as the Columbus Blue Jackets host the Chicago Blackhawks at Nationwide Arena.

The Blackhawks have 80 points on the year and are six behind Colorado and Vancouver for the final two postseason berths in the Western Conference.

Columbus, which has never made the postseason, is 13th in the West with 77 points and has been all but eliminated from the playoffs.

The Blackhawks have won three of their last five games (3-1-1) and are coming off Sunday's thrilling triumph over visiting St. Louis. Patrick Kane scored the game-winning goal 1:09 into overtime and added an assist in regulation as Chicago edged the Blues, 4-3, at the United Center.

Chicago won a left circle faceoff in the St. Louis defensive zone with the puck coming back to Niklas Hjalmarsson at the left point. The defenseman then sent a wrist shot toward the net, but the disc hit off a Blues defender and Kane, who was standing on the doorstep, stuffed it home to give the Blackhawks the two points.

James Wisniewski had a goal and an assist, while Adam Burish and Dustin Byfuglien also tallied for Chicago. Nikolai Khabibulin stopped 26-of-29 shots for the Blackhawks.

Tonight marks the first of two straight on the road for the Blackhawks, who are just 16-16-6 as the visiting team this year. Chicago has dropped four of its last six away from the Windy City.

The Blue Jackets lost their third straight game Tuesday night at Nashville. Dan Ellis made 36 saves to record the fifth shutout of his career, as the Predators blanked Columbus, 3-0, at the Sommet Center.

Fredrik Norrena allowed three goals on 19 shots before he was lifted in favor of Dan LaCosta, who finished with five saves for the Blue Jackets in his first NHL game.

The Blue Jackets have lost four of their last six contests and are just 3-5-2 in March.

Columbus is 19-12-7 as the host this year and is playing the first of two straight at home tonight. The Blue Jackets have won three of five at Nationwide Arena, but have also lost nine of their last 12 on home ice.

The Blackhawks and Blue Jackets have split six meetings this year, but Chicago has taken the last two contests. Chicago has dropped five of its last nine tests in Columbus.

The clubs will complete the season series in Chicago on March 30.

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