Blue Jackets at Oilers
THE STORY: While the majority of the NHL teams are entertaining postseason aspirations, the Columbus Blue Jackets have been mathematically eliminated and the Edmonton Oilers are feverishly crunching the numbers toward that conclusion as well. Perhaps Edmonton coach Tom Renney can see the writing on the wall, which could explain why he publicly blasted his charges following their latest setback. The teams with the two lowest point totals in the league will meet in Alberta on Wednesday.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Blue Jackets), SNET-Edmonton (Oilers)
ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (22-40-7): Columbus had won a season-best four in a row before dropping a home-and-home set to the St. Louis Blues. While there's no shame in losing to the NHL's top team, a woeful power play continues to be one of the culprits for Columbus' problems. The Blue Jackets failed to score on all eight opportunities with the man advantage during Sunday's 2-1 loss and have come up empty on their last 24 such chances. Captain Rick Nash has been held off the scoresheet in five of the six games in March.
ABOUT THE OILERS (26-36-7): Edmonton suffered its third straight loss and 13th in 17 outings Monday, prompting the usually reserved Renney to rant. "It doesn't take many for the wrong approach, the wrong attitude ... to make its way through your dressing room," Renney said after the team's 3-2 setback to the San Jose Sharks. "It doesn't take many guys at all." Although Edmonton's offense has gone south, left wing Taylor Hall is doing his best by scoring a goal in three consecutive games. Hall has collected seven points in four career contests versus the Blue Jackets, but has yet to face them this season.
OVERTIME:
1. Columbus right wing Jared Boll returned from a broken foot and registered five hits and a fight in 7:15 of ice time Sunday.
2. Edmonton goaltender Devan Dubnyk fared well in his return from a minor groin pull. Dubnyk, who stopped 30 shots in Monday's loss, split a pair of contests versus Columbus this season. He stopped just 21 shots in 4-2 loss on Jan. 17.