Pre-Game Analysis: Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Chicago Blackhawks

Well, once again, I blew it, with my prediction, last night.  Trust me, no one's happier than I that I blew it than the Columbus Blue Jackets (CBJ), as they defeated St. Louis, 5-2, last night.

Being one for three is only good if you're playing baseball.  As I've mentioned, being this inept demonstrates basically everything I know about hockey, which isn't much.  Then again, some other pundits are far more clueless, but, good luck telling them.  They know who they are...

That being said, here's another shameless stab at pregame prognostications...for entertainment purposes, only...

OFFENSE

This one's too close to call:  The 'Hawks and the CBJ are basically identical in in both goals scored—total, and goals scored/game, the CBJ scoring 2.98 goals/game and the 'Hawks scoring 2.99 goals/game.  Much like the CBJ, the bulk of their scoring comes from their forwards—Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp, Kris Versteeg.

In handicapping blueline scoring, however, the 'Hawks are much more deadly and prolific, with weapons, from the point, such as Duncan Keith, Cam Barker, Brian Campbell, and Brent Seabrook, just to name a few.  

Rick Nash leads the CBJ in scoring, but, he has quite a bit of help from the forward lines, with secondary scoring help in the way of Kristian Huselius, with 10 goals; RJ Umberger, coming off his second career hat trick, with nine goals; and Raffi Torres, also with nine tallies, although Torres has hit a bit of a wall, lately, scoring-wise. 

So, in five-on-five situations...

Edge: Push

DEFENSE

From the standpoint of shots allowed, Goals Against Average—GAA, Save percent, shots blocked—defense, and offensive production from the blueline, the edge definitely goes to Chicago.  The 'Hawks rank second in GAA and and eighth in save percent, whereas the CBJ rank 26th in save percent and 28th in GAA. In assessing the CBJ's defensive prowness, while three CBJ blueliners now have a plus rating, Jan Hejda, Mike Commodore, and Mathieu Roy. 

However, the CBJ were dealt a serious blow to their defensive corps, due to a horrible groin and abdomen injury sustained by Rusty Klesla, during last night's game against St. Louis.  Klesla is slated to miss 4-6 weeks, and it might be longer, as in season-ending, if surgery is necessary. 

So, to compensate, Hitch has elected to reunite last season's first defensive pairing of Jan Hejda and Mike Commodore, with the hope that Commodore builds off of last night's solid performance, by far his best, this season. 

When it's all said and done...

Edge: Hawks

GOALTENDING

Steve Mason starts again in goal, tonight, for the Blue Jackets.  Mase was stellar, last night, but, once again, the question remains as to whether Mason can be consistent, as he was during his rookie campaign.

Well, if you think Mason's performances have been helter-skelter, feast your eyes on the ultimate richter scale and EKG machine, Kristobal Huet.  This is the same goalie, during last season's SC Playoff series against the Red Wings, who, during one game, literally stood on his head, stopping nearly all of the 48 shots thrown his way, only to then follow up that performance by stopping only 21-of-27 shots.

While Huet has been generally more consistent, this season, he is also prone to performances similar to the one against Calgary, early this season, when he gave up four goals in the first eight minutes of play.

So long as the pace of the game remains in check (read: not a track meet), I'd call this one...

Edge: Push

SPECIAL TEAMS

The Jackets still remain atop of the NHL's Power Play (PP) rankings, cranking away at a 24.8 percent conversion rate—gosh, that still seems difficult to fathom.  Chicago, who are in the middle of the PP statistical pack (14th), registers in at a 21.1 percent rate.

As for the Penalty Kill (PK), the 'Hawks are ranked eighth in the league at an 83.5 percent kill rate, whereas the CBJ are ranked 20th in the NHL, with a kill rate of 78.6 percent.  What's interesting to note is that Columbus has been in far more penalty-killing situations than Chicago, so, the focus for the CBJ is to stay out of the 'box, as Chicago is less apt to commit penalties.

Edge: Push

X FACTOR

There is a lot going in Chicago's favor, mostly due to what's occurring, on this particular evening:  Joel Quenneville is going for his 500th career win as a coach, and Marian Hossa makes his Blackhawks home debut.  Oh, and the game is on Versus, as the spotlight game. 

However, last season's series was dead even, between the teams.  So, this affair should be quite interesting—it all comes down to whether Columbus can slow the pace down, or if the 'Hawks try to force this game into a track meet, something Hitch fears, particularly coming off of a game, the evening, before, in defeating a team they've struggled against, the past two seasons. 

Edge:  Hawks (Slight)

So, when it's all said and done, here goes:

Prediction:  Jackets 4, Hawks 3 (OT)