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Blackhawks seek fourth straight victory as they battle Blue Jackets

Dec 26, 2010 - 3:36 PM (Sports Network) - The Chicago Blackhawks will try to match their longest winning streak of the season when they host the struggling Columbus Blue Jackets tonight in a Central Division clash at the United Center.

The Blackhawks have won in their last three trips to the ice and tonight the defending Stanley Cup champions can match the four-game winning streak they put together from Oct. 15-20.

Chicago is 3-1-0 on a five-game homestand that ends tonight. The Blackhawks lost the opener to Colorado, but have since recorded wins over Detroit, Los Angeles and Nashville. Overall, the Blackhawks are 11-9-0 in the Windy City this season.

Columbus, meanwhile, has lost six straight on the road, dropping the Blue Jackets' record to 8-5-2 away from Ohio this season. However, Columbus has won two straight and four of its last six tests in Chicago and was able to notch a 3-2 regulation win at the United Center when the clubs last met on Oct. 23.

The Blue Jackets have won three of their last four games against the Blackhawks, but Chicago also has five victories over the last eight encounters between the clubs.

Chicago registered its most recent victory Tuesday evening against the Nashville Predators. Jack Skille scored twice to help the Blackhawks earn the 4-1 victory, Chicago's fifth win in its last six games at the United Center.

Dave Bolland had a goal and an assist while Bryan Bickell tallied the other goal for the Blackhawks. Duncan Keith had two assists in the win while Corey Crawford made 24 saves.

"To get these three wins before the long rest is big," said Bickell of his team's recent break. "We play at home after the break and hopefully we can keep this momentum going. We play the way we've been playing, we'll have success."

The Blackhawks are hoping to add to their momentum with the possible return of star winger Patrick Kane to the lineup tonight. Kane has missed the last seven games with an ankle injury and he is considered questionable for this evening's game. Despite not having played since Dec. 5, Kane is still third on Chicago with 27 points in 28 games this season.

Chicago winger Marian Hossa, who hasn't played since Nov. 27 due to a lower- body injury, is expected to miss an 11th straight game tonight.

Columbus ended a four-game slide with a win Tuesday against Calgary, but were then blown out by Vancouver on Thursday to close a three-game homestand on a down note. Raffi Torres tallied two goals and Henrik Sedin posted a goal and three assists in the Canucks' 7-3 rout of the Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena.

R.J. Umberger potted two goals for the Blue Jackets. Tom Sestito also had a goal in the loss.

Mathieu Garon allowed six goals on 22 shots before he was pulled in the second period in favor of Steve Mason, who ended the game with seven saves on eight shots.

"We weren't good and we just fed into that," Umberger said. "We made them look better than they were. I mean they played good, but we made them look better."

It's unclear if Garon or Mason will get the start for Columbus tonight. Mason is 5-3-2 with a 2.94 GAA in 10 career outings against Chicago, while Garon is 6-4-1 with a 2.96 GAA in 11 games versus the Blackhawks.