Hawks vs. Blue Jackets

The Hawks have put themselves in fine shape with their victory last night (4-2 over Nashville) - they now sit at 99 points, have three games left (2 at home), and hold a 3 point lead over both Calgary and Vancouver. Given that one of those teams is guaranteed to earn the #3, for the Hawks to blow the #4 seed, they'd have to not win a single remaining game, not make overtime in 2 of them, and have both Calgary and Vancouver win both their remaining games.

I think it's safe to say that the Hawks are gonna be the #4 seed when the playoffs start next Wednesday, the 15th. Only two questions remain - 1st is who will they play. Conventional wisdom says the Hawks are rooting for Calgary to fall to #5, as they've owned them. However, they hold the tiebreaker with Vancouver (more wins), so the Canucks are gonna have to pick up a point over these next two games. If they don't, the Hawks will have to figure out a way to solve Luongo while also keeping a strong Vancouver offense team from lighting them up.

The second question - when will the Hawks officially clinch the #4? The hope - tonight, at home, versus the Columbus Blue Jackets. With the way the Hawks have heated up lately, the crowd should be a-rockin. If they can play strong early, even snag a lead right away, it's gonna be a madhouse.

So what are they facing tonight? Columbus is Ohio's first NHL team since the Cleveland Barons merged with the Minnesota North Stars in 1978 (the last time a major pro team ceased independent operations). They started play in 2000 (along with the Minnesota Wild) against our very own Hawks. And it's been all downhill since.

The Blue Jackets have never made the playoffs nor secured more than 80 points in a season. That is, until this year. They're sitting on 40 wins, 90 points, and playing for of their own tonight - the chance to clinch their first ever post-season birth. Any point by the Blue Jackets would do the trick, tho the reality is that it'd take quite a failure of them not to make it at this point. Instead, they're really focusing on positioning, hoping to retain the #6 seed (for which they have a two point lead) and thus avoid San Jose or Detroit in Round 1.

Scoring isn't the Blue Jackets forte, as they're in the bottom third of the league and dead last among the current Western Conference playoff teams. A power play that ranks dead last probably has a lot to do with that. Defense is wear the BJs have made their mark, with a Top 10 team GAA and a penalty kill unit in the top half of the league. With only 15 road wins, Columbus isn't much away from home, but at 4-2-4 over their last 10, they've been playing decent hockey of late.

What limited offense the BJs get comes from #61 Nash (38 G, 38 A), a one-time 40 goal scorer who could turn the trick again this year. #20 Huselius (21 G, 35 A) is a proven scorer, while #18 Umberger (26 G, 19 A) is their top scoring center. #27 Malhotra (11 G, 23 A) and #50 Vermette (15 G, 24 A) are also a key centerman, playing well in both ends and winning 58% of their draws. Vermette was a mid-season pick-up from Ottawa, and has finally filled the huge hole left when Calder candidate #16 Brassard (10 G, 15 A in 31 games) was lost for the year. 19-year old #93 Voracek (9 G, 28 A) and former Hawk #29 J Williams (18 G, 28 A) round out the scoring threats, while #33 Modin, #25 Chimera, and #19 Peca give the BJs significant solid veteran grinder minutes.

#51 Tyutin (9 G, 25 A) has emerged this year as a top defenseman (especially on the power play) to pair with the ever reliable #22 Commodore. Czechs #8 Hedja and #97 Klesla also provide 20+ minutes of solid but unexciting play each night, tho Klesla has been on and off Injured Reserve all year. 21-year old #10 Russell (2 G, 18 A) has emerged as a nice piece to a woeful power play.

Nash wears the C, while Modin and Klesla wear the As. #40 Boll (171 PIM) will definitely fight, as will #15 Dorsett (146 PIM in 49 games), if he's not a healthy scratch. The odds of a fight are tough to judge. On one hand, both teams really want this win, so if the energy is waining, a fight could be a nice pick-me-up. But neither team can afford to give up a power play chance or allow the other team to have one by getting into an unneeded scrap.

In net, 20 year old #1 Mason (2.22 GAA, .918 Sv %) has been a monster this season and is well on his way to winning the Calder for his work carrying his squad into it's first post-season. With 2 days off, he'll most certainly be back in net tonight.

The season series has been close (3-2) with three different games going into OT and 1 even reaching the shoot-out. The Blue Jackets are well-rested and need every point they can get to hang on to the coveted #6 slot. The Hawks are playing their third game in four nights, but know a victory clinches the #4 seed and takes the pressure off of the weekend home-and-home series with the Wings.

Should be a good one, Hawks fans.