Blackhawks Fall To Columbus Again more ›

While the Blackhawks officially clinched a playoff spot last night, there wasn't much to celebrate after the team was throttled 8-3 by the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 'Hawks found themselves down 2-0 at the first intermission but a Kris Vertseeg goal put them back in it at 2-1. Things would quickly slide downhill from there, however. The Blue Jackets unleashed a barrage, scoring six straight goals, four through the end of the second period and two to start the third. When the 'Hawks put through goals - a Kopecky power play goal and Burrish's first goal of the season - it was far too little, far too late. Cristobal Huet had a rough night in net, allowing seven of the Blue Jackets' goals; Antti Niemi allowed one goal in less than six minutes on ice. The 'Hawks, now a point behind San Jose for the top spot in the West, will seek revenge when Columbus comes to the United Center Sunday evening (6 p.m., WGN). more ›

The Blackhawks head into the two-week Winter Olympic break on a winning note as they edged the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-4 in a shoot-out. The Blue Jackets jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first before Patrick Kane cut the deficit with a power-play goal. The 'Hawks scored three more times in the second as Bryan Bickell and Jake Dowell got rare goals and Patrick Sharp finished the four-goal run to give the 'Hawks a nice lead. But the Blue Jackets would score the final two goals of the game to force overtime. After a scoreless overtime period, the teams finished the three round shoot-out tied at 1-1 (Kane scoring the Blackhawks goal), so they went to extra rounds where Troy Brouwer scored the winning 'Hawks goal. At 41-15-5, the Blackhawks enter the two-week break in second place in the Western Conference, just two points behind San Jose (and having played one less game). They also ride a four-game winning streak into the break but they'll have to fight to keep their momentum which they'll need as they'll play 15 games in 31 days in March to help make up for the time off. Still, the 'Hawks are in a nice position to make a run as the top seed in the conference for the playoffs. more ›

'Hawks Clip Columbus more ›

It was a historic night at the United Center with the Blackhawks making their triumphant return home after the Circus Trip and winning in dramatic fashion over the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3 in an 11-round shootout. Kris Versteeg scored a short-handed goal to give the 'Hawks a 1-0 first period lead. The Jackets answered with a pair of second period goals, but Patrick Sharp netted a power play goal to tie the game at 2-2 after the second. A Columbus goal in the opening minute of the third was followed a few minutes later by a Jonathan Toews power play goal that tied the game at 3-3, where it would end up even after the overtime period. Marian Hossa scored the first 'Hawks goal in the shootout's second round only to have Columbus answer in the next. The teams then were at a stalemate until Brent Seabrook found the back of the net in the 11th round of the shootout to give the 'Hawks the win in the longest shootout in the team's history. The win, as noted, was also the 500th victory of Coach Quenneville's career. In goal, Cristobal Huet had 20 saves through the overtime period but also had an incredible nine more saves in the shootout (the Jackets scored once and missed once). The 'Hawks, who have 8 of their first 10 games of the month at home, host Nashville on Friday (7:30 p.m., CSN). more ›

AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski