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National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Columbus 5, Chicago 2
When: 8:30 PM ET, Friday, March 27, 2015
Where: United Center, Chicago, Illinois
Referees: Greg Kimmerly, Gord Dwyer
Linesmen: Ryan Galloway, Bryan Pancich
Attendance: 22187

Blue Jackets 5, Blackhawks 2: Cam Atkinson registered his second career hat trick as Columbus extended its road winning streak to a franchise-record seven games.

Ryan Johansen scored a goal and set up another while defenseman Kevin Connauton also tallied for the Blue Jackets, who matched a franchise mark with their 21st road victory of the campaign. Blue-liner Cody Goloubef notched a pair of assists and Sergei Bobrovsky made 31 saves as Columbus completed a sweep of the two-game season series.

Brandon Saad and captain Jonathan Toews scored for the Blackhawks, who suffered their third loss in four games as their lead over Minnesota for third place in the Central Division dwindled to one point. Defenseman Johnny Oduya set up both tallies and Corey Crawford allowed four goals on 13 shots before being replaced by Scott Darling, who stopped all 13 shots he faced.

Chicago grabbed an early lead as Saad beat Bobrovsky from the left faceoff circle, but Columbus answered 41 seconds later on a breakaway by Johansen. Atkinson gave the Blue Jackets a 2-1 edge at 9:24 of the opening period, when he tipped Goloubef's one-timer from the right point past Crawford.

Toews drew the Blackhawks even just over two minutes later by deflecting Oduya's one-timer from the left point, but Connauton restored Columbus' lead 85 seconds afterward with his own one-timer from the left point. Atkinson created breathing room while short-handed with 4:14 left in the session, taking a feed from Goloubef and sliding the puck around Crawford on a breakaway, and completed his hat trick with an empty-netter in the final minute of the third period.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The multi-goal performance was the second of the season for Atkinson, who scored twice on Oct. 11 against the New York Rangers. ... Chicago fell to 8-4-1 without superstar RW Patrick Kane, who is sidelined with a fractured clavicle. ... In addition to its road winning streak, Columbus has captured five straight overall and eight of its last nine. ... Blue Jackets C Brandon Dubinsky returned to the lineup after missing four games with an upper-body injury.
Top Game Performances
 
Columbus   Chicago
Cam Atkinson 3 Points Johnny Oduya 2
Cam Atkinson 3 Goals Brandon Saad 1
Cody Goloubef 2 Assists Johnny Oduya 2
N/A Power Play Goals N/A
Cam Atkinson 1 Short Handed Goals N/A
Sergei Bobrovsky .939 Save Percentage Scott Darling 1.000
Sergei Bobrovsky 31 Saves Scott Darling 13
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Columbus 27 5 0-1 5-5 10 20
Chicago 33 2 0-5 1-1 2 37
Upcoming Games
  • Chicago will play their next game on the road against Winnipeg. The Blackhawks have a W/L % of .500 after a win and .733 after a loss.
  • Columbus will play their next game on the road against St. Louis. The Blue Jackets have a W/L % of .571 after a win and .385 after a loss.