Morning Skate: Friday, 3/13

Tonight’s Slate:
Blue Jackets @ Blackhawks, 8:30 ET
Kings @ Canucks, 10:00

Game of the Night:
Columbus Blue Jackets @ Chicago Blackhawks
8:30 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Blue Jackets (35-27-6) … Blackhawks (37-19-9)
Last Ten: Blue Jackets (6-4-0) … Blackhawks (5-4-1)
Away/Home: Blue Jackets (13-17-4) … Blackhawks (18-6-6)
Season Series: 2-0 Blackhawks

Players to watch:
CBJ- Antoine Vermette
Vermette has fit in nicely in Columbus thus far.
CHI- Dave Bolland
Look for him to do some dirty work that will contribute to the win.

Projected Goaltenders:
CBJ- Steve Mason (Last night vs. PIT: 38 Saves, 3 GA)
CHI- Cristobal Huet (08-09 stats: 19-13-3, 2.42 GAA)

Injury Report:
CBJ- Michael Peca (concussion, questionable), Fredrik Modin (knee, out), Jason Chimera (groin, out), O-K Tollefsen (knee, out), Rostislav Klesla (shoulder, out), Derick Brassard (shoulder, out)
CHI- Samuel Pahlsson (mono, out), Martin Havlat (thigh, doubtful), Patrick Sharp (knee, out), Brent Sopel (elbow, out)

Game Thoughts:
Tonight very well could be a letdown game for the Jackets, but that doesn’t take anything away from their past 3 games. They’ve beaten Detroit, Boston, and Pittsburgh to inch closer to the 5th seed. Chicago beat Carolina in a shootout on Wednesday, and I expect to be firing on all cylinders tonight. In what could be a preview of the 1st round in the West, expect the ‘Hawks to win this one fairly easily.

Prediction: Blackhawks 4, Blue Jackets 1
The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Canucks over Kings

For more predictions and analysis on the NHL like this, stop by the Red Light District.