Blackhawks  6    Blue Jackets  5

Chicago Blackhawks (32-11-4) at Columbus Blue Jackets (18-22-9), 2 p.m.

Sports Network | January 16, 2010

(Sports Network) - The Chicago Blackhawks will try to complete a home-and-home sweep this afternoon when they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets for a Central Division clash at Nationwide Arena.

Chicago hosted the Blue Jackets on Thursday night and notched a 3-0 victory at United Center. The win ended a two-game slide for the Blackhawks, who lead the Central with 68 points. Columbus is last in the division with just 45 points on the year.

The Blackhawks are 2-0 against Columbus this year and have taken three of four and six of the last nine encounters in the series. Chicago has also won two of three and four of its last six games in Ohio, but today's tilt marks the first meeting between the clubs in Columbus this year.

Today's game marks the start of a season-high, eight-game road trip for the Blackhawks, who are 11-6-3 as the visiting club this season. Chicago won't play its next game in the Windy City until February 3.

Cristobal Huet was the star for Chicago in the opener of the home-and-home, as he made 24 saves for his fourth shutout of the season.

Brian Campbell, Duncan Keith and Dustin Byfuglien all scored as Chicago won for the sixth time in eight games. Kris Versteeg added two assists to the winning effort.

Versteeg comes into tonight riding a nine-game point streak and has three goals and eight assists during the run. Keith has four goals and four helpers over six-game point streak.

Blackhawks defenseman Cam Barker missed his fifth straight game with an upper- body injury and is questionable for tonight's test.

The Blue Jackets have lost two straight on the heels of a three-game winning streak and are just 4-11-4 in their last 19 games.

Mathieu Garon allowed all three goals on 36 shots in Thursday's setback against the Blackhawks. It marked the first time Columbus has been shut out this season.

With the shutout in Chicago, the Blue Jackets have scored just six goals over their last four games.

"We had a lot of shots blocked," Columbus head coach Ken Hitchcock said. "I don't know what their numbers are, but they blocked a lot of shots from the point and created odd-man rushes off of blocked shots. Their defensemen got the shots through tonight and ours didn't."

Columbus played its fourth straight game without winger Fredrik Modin, who is sidelined with a bruised foot. Modin has one goal and one assist in just 14 games during an injury-plagued season and is questionable for today.

The Blue Jackets have a 10-7-5 record this year at Nationwide Arena and are playing the first of two straight on home ice today. Columbus will host St. Louis on Monday before heading out on a three-game road trip.