The Columbus Blue Jackets continue their quest for a postseason berth when they visit the Pacific Division-leading Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday. Columbus, which made its only playoff appearance in 2008-09, is even in points with the eighth-place Detroit Red Wings in the Western Conference but occupies ninth due to the tiebreaker. The Blue Jackets are coming off their fourth consecutive victory, a 4-3 overtime triumph over the Colorado Avalanche on Monday. Nick Foligno scored at 4:31 of the extra session.
Anaheim has been idle since Saturday, when it suffered a 2-1 road loss to the division-rival Los Angeles Kings. It was the second straight setback and third in five games for the Ducks, who have a six-point lead over both the Kings and San Jose Sharks in the Pacific. Anaheim has struggled offensively of late, scoring three goals or fewer in each of its last five contests and one tally in each of its three losses.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, FSN Ohio (Columbus), KDOC (Anaheim)
ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (20-16-7): Columbus is 2-0-0 on its six-game road trip as it posted a shootout win over the Minnesota Wild and an overtime triumph over Colorado. After facing Anaheim, the Blue Jackets make stops in Los Angeles, San Jose and Dallas before returning home for the regular-season finale against the Nashville Predators on April 27. Artem Anisimov, who suffered an upper-body injury Saturday in Minnesota, is traveling with the team but is not expected to play Wednesday or Thursday.
ABOUT THE DUCKS (27-10-5): Cam Fowler, who missed Saturday's game with an upper-body injury, skated on his own Tuesday and could be back in the lineup Friday against Calgary. "It's not going to take Cam a long time to get back into game readiness once he's cleared for contact," coach Bruce Boudreau said. With fellow defenseman Luca Sbisa questionable for Wednesday due to soreness, Anaheim recalled blue-liners Sami Vatanen and Jordan Hendry from Norfolk of the American Hockey League. "They're both under emergency (recall)," Boudreau said. "We just didn't know with Cam's situation and Luca's situation what our deal was. Better safe than sorry."
OVERTIME
1. The clubs split the first two matchups this season, with the Ducks' loss coming in overtime.
2. Anaheim has won eight of its last 10 Wednesday games, while Columbus has captured just one of its last nine.
3. The Ducks have a five-game point streak (3-0-2) against the Blue Jackets.
PREDICTION: Ducks 3, Blue Jackets 2