Blue Jackets at Oilers
THE STORY: The Columbus Blue Jackets will go for an Alberta sweep Friday when they face off against the Edmonton Oilers at Rexall Place. Columbus improved to 2-1-0 on its four-game road trip Thursday with a 4-3 comeback victory over the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome. The win was the Blue Jackets' second in 12 road games this season. Edmonton seeks its first victory on its season-high six-game homestand, as it began the stretch of home contests with a pair of one-goal losses - including one in overtime to the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday. The Oilers have dropped three games in a row overall and three of four at home.
TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, FSN Ohio (Columbus), Rogers Sportsnet West (Edmonton)
ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (7-15-3): Columbus pulled off an improbable victory in Calgary, scoring twice in the final 4:05 of the third period before prevailing in a shootout. Captain Rick Nash netted the tying goal with 58 seconds remaining in regulation and recorded the lone tally in the bonus format. Nash has scored four of his eight goals on the season in his last six games. The Blue Jackets have won five of their last seven meetings with the Oilers, but have lost seven of nine trips to Edmonton.
ABOUT THE OILERS (12-10-3): Edmonton has squandered a lead in all three games during its skid. Offense has been its downfall in dropping eight of its last 11 contests as the club has scored two goals or less in six of the setbacks. Despite the struggles, two of the team's young stars have been producing. Jordan Eberle, a first-round pick in 2008, has registered 15 points in his last nine games while 2011 first-overall draft selection Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has notched 13 points in seven contests.
OVERTIME:
1. Columbus forward Vinny Prospal's assist in Thursday's victory was his 700th career point.
2. Edmonton has scored five goals during its three-game skid after tallying 21 times over its previous four contests.
3. The home team has won the last five meetings between the clubs.