Motivated Blue Jackets intent on adding to Blackhawks' woes

The Columbus Blue Jackets will look to continue their hot stretch when they visit the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday night.

Columbus has won three games in a row and seven of its last eight.

The Blackhawks will play the second game of a back-to-back set after falling 6-2 at the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday. The setback was the fourth in a row (0-2-2) for Chicago.

"I think there's a number of individuals that aren't feeling it right now," Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill said. "So that hurts your team's confidence because the makeup of your players [isn't] as confident, you know? So we've got to get some swagger back, but the only way to get that back is to earn it."

Chicago's Connor Bedard and Connor Murphy each scored a goal vs. the Penguins, and Arvid Soderblom made 38 saves.

The game was tied 1-1 after the first period before the Blackhawks were outshot 36-11 over the final 40 minutes.

"We didn't show enough, I don't think, response there," Chicago defenseman Matt Grzelcyk said. "That's not the team we want to be. ... We can be wanting to get to the next game, but you've got to show some response there. I don't think we did a good enough job of that."

Chicago captain Nick Foligno left midway through the first period with an undisclosed injury. His status is uncertain for Friday's game.

Ryan Greene picked up an assist to join defenseman Artyom Levshunov as the second Blackhawks rookie with 20 points in 2025-26.

Spencer Knight is 2-0-0 with 2.00 goals-against average and .944 save percentage in his career vs. Columbus. Overall, he has allowed seven goals on 47 shots over his past two starts.

Columbus will start a three-game road trip after a 5-3 win against the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday. The Blue Jackets trail the third-place New York Islanders by eight points in the Metropolitan Division.

"I know everyone is different in terms of looking at the standings, but I check it daily," Columbus defenseman Zach Werenski said. "I think it's important to know where you're at in the standings, what needs to happen. I think it gives you extra motivation when you're kind of climbing and catching teams and know what's at stake."

Sean Monahan scored the go-ahead goal late in the third period after the Flyers rallied from a 3-1 deficit to tie it. He has goals in three of his past four games.

Charlie Coyle and Mathieu Olivier each collected a goal and an assist for the Blue Jackets, and Elvis Merzlikins made 24 saves. Werenski and Cole Sillinger each had two assists.

"We just have to keep pushing," Columbus coach Rick Bowness said. "What we can control is us, and we just have to keep the focus on what we have to do. As long as we do that, then we'll have to live with the end result."

Coyle has five points (two goals, three assists) in his past two games, and Columbus is 6-1-0 under Bowness, who replaced the fired Dan Evason on Jan. 12.

Friday's probable starter in goal, Jet Greaves, would make his first career start against Chicago.

The teams will face off for the first time this season. They will be meet again in Columbus on Wednesday.

--Field Level Media