Blackhawks  3    Blue Jackets  8

Chicago Blackhawks (46-19-7) at Columbus Blue Jackets (29-32-12), 7 p.m.

Sports Network | March 25, 2010

(Sports Network) - Vying to stay on top in a competitive Western Conference playoff race, the Chicago Blackhawks have a chance to sew up a spot in the postseason in tonight's opener of a home-and-home series with the Central Division-rival Columbus Blue Jackets from Nationwide Arena.

Chicago moved into sole possession of first place in the West with Tuesday's 2-0 home triumph over hard-charging Phoenix, avenging a 5-4 shootout loss to the Coyotes in Arizona on Saturday. Antti Niemi turned in an outstanding performance between the pipes to lead the way, turning aside all 28 shots in posting his sixth shutout of the season.

Niemi got all the support he would need on second-period goals from Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa as the Blackhawks won for only the second time in their past six outings (2-2-2).

"They were a very determined team [Tuesday]," said Coyotes head coach Dave Tippett of the Blackhawks.

The key win gave Chicago 99 points on the season, one more than second-seeded San Jose and two ahead of the Coyotes, who had tied a franchise record with nine straight victories coming in.

With another win this evening, the Blackhawks will secure a berth in next month's conference playoffs. Chicago can also clinch a spot if it earns a point against Columbus and ninth-place Calgary loses at the New York Islanders tonight, or if the Flames fail to obtain a point in their game.

The odds seem to be in the Blackhawks' favor, if recent history is any indication. Chicago has taken all four previous meetings with the Blue Jackets this season and has come out on top in three straight and six of its last eight trips to Columbus.

While the Blackhawks are on the verge of officially becoming part of the postseason field, the Blue Jackets would be mathematically eliminated from playoff consideration with a loss tonight. Columbus currently sits next-to- last in the West with 70 points and trails eighth-place Detroit by 17 points with nine games left to play.

The Blue Jackets kept their faint hopes alive by going 4-1-0 over a five-game stretch from March 9-19, but has since dropped back-to-back road tests to Nashville and New Jersey. After falling to the Predators via a 1-0 shootout on Saturday, Columbus struggled mightily on the defensive end in a 6-3 defeat to the Devils Tuesday at the Prudential Center.

Jackets netminder Steve Mason allowed four second-period goals and stopped only 24-of-30 shots on the night, with Antoine Vermette, Jakub Voracek and Kristian Huselius all lighting the lamp for Columbus in a losing cause.

"Once you get behind against this team, it's very tough to come back," said Columbus head coach Claude Noel of the Devils. "For us, we still could've won the game. Even after the first period, the game was up for grabs and it's disappointing."

Huselius also had an assist in Tuesday's setback and has now notched 10 points (4 goals, 6 assists) over his last five games.

Niemi has recorded a shutout in two of his last three starts for Chicago, but he's expected to give way to counterpart Cristobal Huet for tonight's tilt. Huet is 3-0-0 with a 2.61 goals against average in three appearances against the Blue Jackets this season.

These divisional foes will also face off in Chicago on Saturday.