Blue Jackets  4    Blackhawks  2

Columbus Blue Jackets (30-32-13) at Chicago Blackhawks (46-20-7), 7 p.m.

Sports Network | March 28, 2010

(Sports Network) - The Chicago Blackhawks didn't look like a playoff team in their last trip to the ice when they suffered their worse loss of the season. They'll get a chance to avenge that setback tonight against the same opponent as they host the Columbus Blue Jackets at United Center.

The Blackhawks visited the Blue Jackets on Thursday and could have clinched a spot in the playoffs on their own. Instead, they were routed by Columbus, 8-3, but backed into the playoffs thanks to Calgary's loss to the New York Islanders on the same night.

Tomas Kopecky, Adam Burish and Kris Versteeg scored for the Blackhawks, who are three points behind the Sharks for the top spot in the Western Conference with two games in hand. Chicago also owns a seven-point edge over second-place Nashville in the Central Division with three games in hand in that race.

Cristobal Huet turned aside 20-of-27 shots before being pulled in the second for Antti Niemi, who made four saves in relief as the Blackhawks lost for the fifth time in their last seven games.

"Across the board, from the first shift to the end of the game. There is nothing to be excited about. Discount it and throw it in the garbage can," Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said.

The Blackhawks return home for a game before starting a three-game road trip and are 27-7-3 as the host. Chicago has won six of its last eight at home overall as well as two straight and four of its last six at United Center versus the Blue Jackets.

Chicago had won four straight versus Columbus before Thursday's loss and will wrap its season series with the club tonight.

The Blue Jackets got two goals each from Antoine Vermette and Kristian Huselius in the blowout win over Chicago. Vermette also had an assist and Jakub Voracek scored and had two helpers.

Columbus was unable to carry that momentum into Saturday night's game versus the New York Islanders, losing 4-3 in overtime for its third defeat in four games.

R.J. Umberger scored Columbus' first goal, while Rick Nash and Grant Clitsome scored 45 seconds apart in the third frame -- with Clitsome getting his first NHL goal -- to erase a one-goal deficit. Mathieu Garon made 24 saves, but allowed the winner at 2:58 of overtime.

"I didn't like the way we started the game," said Blue Jackets coach Claude Noel. "We were slow to start. We picked it up in the second and third periods. The overtime goal for me was, well, I didn't like it. There were a lot of things wrong with it."

Columbus has lost two straight and five of its last six overall on the road.