And we’re back!
The NHL returns to action on Saturday with a full slate of games and that includes one for these Blackhawks, who are out in Ohio to take on the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night.
Columbus is a bit of an interesting study this season because they enter Saturday’s action just one spot shy of the second wild card spot in the East yet there isn’t too much which can be pointed towards as evidence of why they’re in that position. Columbus is 10th in the league at 3.2 goals per game, which is decent but not exactly setting the world on fire. They’re 25th in goals against (3.3 per game), don’t have particularly good special teams (18th on the power play at 21.1 percent, 26th on the PK at 75.3) and are a pretty bad possession team at 5-on-5 in terms of both quantity (29th in shot attempt share at 47.30 percent) and quality (26th in expected goal share at 47.25). But here they are, sitting in playoff contention with a two-month sprint to postseason ahead, something wholly unexpected out of this Columbus side following the tragedy it encountered in the offseason. And Columbus may be in even better standing had it not lost four straight before the 4 Nations break.
One of the reasons for Columbus’ offensive surge is the breakout season for 2018 second-round pick Kirill Marchenko, who’s up over a point per game at 55 (21 G, 34 A) in 51 games, which is second to blue-liner Zack Werenski (59 in 55) for the team lead. Marchenko had back-to-back 20-goal seasons to start his NHL career but this third season has seen Marchenko emerge as a legitimate top-line threat. Veteran Sean Monahan (41 points in 41 games) and youngsters Kent Johnson (36 in 42) and Dmitri Voronkov (35 in 47) provide additional scoring depth, while 2023 No. 3 overall pick Adam Fantilli continues to find his footing at the NHL level with 32 points (15 G, 17 A) in 56 games. It may not be the most formidable offensive force in the NHL, but there’s certainly enough here to give Chicago’s defense fits. And the Blackhawks forwards would be wise to keep an eye on Werenski at the point, who’s once again demonstrating his ability to be one of the league’s best offensive generators from the back end.
Neither Columbus goalie is having a season to remember, with both starter Elvis Merzlikins (19-14-4 record, .895 save percentage, 2.99 goals-against average) and backup Daniil Tarasov (5-7-2, .876, 3.69) posting subpar statistics. It suggests goals could be available of the Hawks are able to get some pucks on net during this game. Merzlikins is expected to start based on the lineup shared by Columbus on Saturday morning:
SO BACK!
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) February 22, 2025
📝 https://t.co/Pvqdxw2hzP#CBJ pic.twitter.com/PJvoTRVvn4
As for the Hawks, much of the focus for the next few weeks will likely target the veteran skaters who could become trade bait at the upcoming deadline. Ryan Donato has been one of the more consistent names there, while Seth Jones has made it publicly known he’s ready to ply his trade elsewhere after years of quieter rumors circling around him. Craig Smith seems possible for a team interested in taking a flyer on a veteran fourth-liner, while defensemen Alec Martinez and Connor Murphy might yield some attention as well, although health has been a concern for the latter two. That’ll be the outside perspective, at least, as the interior focus will continue to be on the young players comprising the lineup — especially that Bedard kid.
The lineup at the morning skate was the same as the lineup from Friday’s practice:
Blackhawks lines in morning skate in Columbus are as expected:
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) February 22, 2025
Slaggert-Bedard-Donato
Kurashev-Nazar-Bertuzzi
Teravainen-Foligno-Mikheyev
Maroon-Reichel-Smith
Martinez-Jones
Vlasic-Murphy
Brodie-Del Mastro
Mrazek
Let’s go Hawks.
Blackhawks — Statistic — Blue Jackets
44.26% (32nd) — 5-on-5 Corsi For — 47.30% (29th)
43.41% (31st) — 5-on-5 Expected goals for — 47.25% (26th)
2.69 (28th) — Goals per game — 3.21 (10th)
3.44 (t-30th) — Goals against per game — 3.3 (25th)
45.3% (31st) — Faceoffs — 46.8% (28th)
24.6% (8th) — Power play — 21.1% (18th)
82.0% (7th) — Penalty kill — 75.3% (26th)
(All stats from this season)
How to watch
When: 6 p.m. CT
Where: Nationwide Arena, Columbus
TV: CHSN
Webstream: ESPN+, Hulu
Radio: WGN 720