Blue Jackets Vs. Blackhawks NHL Preview: Both Offenses Are Scoring, But Columbus Will Have Hands Full

The Columbus Blue Jackets had a three-day break with which to consider their four-game losing streak and how best to get back to winning ways. It doesn't help their chances that the Chicago Blackhawks are one of the hottest teams in the NHL at the moment, but the extra time off may help either way. Columbus has lost six of their last seven games, but they haven't exactly been "out of" those games for most of the time.

Four of those six losses were by one point, and Columbus was able to put up goal totals of three or more five times in that span of seven games. They're playing good hockey, but their inability to finish out games or complete comebacks has hurt them all season long. Chicago, on the other hand, has won six of its last seven games, including a 5-1 victory over the Candiens in their last outing. Their lone loss in that time frame was on Dec. 20, when they were edged out by the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2. So Chicago is going for their second-straight win after a five-day break.

Chicago has won both of the games between these two teams this season, including a 6-3 win in Columbus on Nov. 10. Though Columbus has been "in" their recent games, the Blackhawks haven't been slouches offensively, either. They've scored four or more goals six times in the month of December, and have only scored below three goals once over the same time frame. There's a good chance that it will take more than three goals and steady offense to beat the Blackhawks.

The game is set for 8:30 p.m. eastern.