Blue Jackets at Flames
The Columbus Blue Jackets have won 11 of their last 12 games to improve their standing in the postseason race while the Calgary Flames bowed out of contention for the playoffs following their sixth loss in a row. The Blue Jackets bid to emerge victorious in their sixth consecutive road contest overall and eighth straight encounter in Calgary on Thursday when they make the second stop on their three-game trek.
"I don't know exactly when it changed or what we did to change it, but right now every point is important and we're fighting for our lives here," said forward Alexander Wennberg, who posted a franchise-record plus-6 rating on Tuesday as Columbus scored seven unanswered goals in a 7-3 win over Edmonton. The Blue Jackets' offense has been in high gear with four or more goals in nine of their last 12 games to move within one point of second place in the Metropolitan Division. The fire has gone out in the Flames' offense, as the club was shut out for the third time during its current losing skid with a 3-0 decision at Los Angeles. Johnny Gaudreau, who has career-high totals in assists (59) and points (82), missed the contest versus the Kings and is away from the team indefinitely after his father suffered a cardiac event over the weekend.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Columbus), Sportsnet West (Calgary)
ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (43-29-5): Artemi Panarin is enjoying a March to remember with a franchise-record 19 points (eight goals, 11 assists) this month, including a goal and an assist against the Oilers. The former Calder Trophy recipient became the fifth player in club history to reach the 70-point plateau in a single season while Thomas Vanek is making his mark with his new team after his 11th career hat trick against Edmonton boosted his total to 13 points (seven goals, six assists) in 14 games since being acquired from Vancouver. Fellow forward Boone Jenner has done quite all right for himself with 11 points (six goals, five assists) in his past 10 games.
ABOUT THE FLAMES (35-32-10): Mike Smith has conceded at least three goals for the sixth time in seven outings since returning from a lower-body injury and saw his 40-save performance go by the boards in a 1-0 overtime loss in Columbus on Nov. 22. "I've been in this situation before," the 36-year-old said. "It's about playing to the end. You're paid real good money to be in this league. I think even when you're not in a playoff spot, you don't take it for granted." A primary reason Calgary will be sitting out the NHL's second season could be its dismal home record, as it owns just a 15-18-4 mark at Scotiabank Saddledome.
OVERTIME
1. Columbus has collected at least a point in 13 of its last 16 meetings (11-3-2) versus Calgary.
2. The Flames' 27th-ranked power play is mired in a 1-for-42 rut over the last 14 games.
3. With his next win, John Tortorella will supplant Todd Richards (127) as the all-time winningest coach in Blue Jackets history.