Blue Jackets at Kings
The Columbus Blue Jackets are riding a five-game winning streak and have overtaken Detroit for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Blue Jackets continue their six-game road trip on Thursday when they visit the Los Angeles Kings for their second contest in as many days. Columbus defeated Anaheim 3-2 in overtime on Wednesday to take a two-point lead on the Red Wings as it seeks the second playoff berth in franchise history. Sergei Bobrovsky has been in net for all five of the Blue Jackets’ victories and has only allowed more than two goals in one of those games.
The Kings defeated Columbus in both previous meetings, skating to a 4-2 victory at Columbus on Feb. 5 and a 2-1 home triumph on Feb. 15. Los Angeles is tied with San Jose for fourth place in the conference with 53 points after losing 3-2 to the Sharks in a shootout on Tuesday. The Kings are on a four-game home winning streak and have held opponents to two or fewer goals in each of their last six games at Staples Center, where they are 16-4-1. Jonathan Quick has started the last four games for Los Angeles, posting a 2-1-1 mark. The Kings are 7-for-25 on the power play while riding a six-game scoring streak.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Ohio, Fox Sports West
ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (21-16-4): Marian Gaborik has seven points in eight games since arriving from the New York Rangers at the trade deadline. Gaborik helped set up defenseman Fedor Tyutin’s overtime winner against the Ducks. Blake Comeau, acquired from Calgary, scored his second goal in as many games on Wednesday. The Blue Jackets are the only team in the conference playoff picture with a negative goal differential. Detroit has a game in hand, while Dallas - four points out - has two on Columbus. Prior to winning the first three contests of its road trip, Columbus was 5-11-2 in away games. Defenseman Adrian Aucoin missed Wednesday’s game with a lower-body injury, while Artem Anisimov has missed two with a head injury.
ABOUT THE KINGS (24-14-5): Mike Richards, who has two goals and an assist in the previous two games against the Blue Jackets, leads Los Angeles with seven points this month. Richards has registered 17 of his 29 points at home. Defenseman Drew Doughty has scored four of his five goals in the last six games. Defenseman Matt Greene, who has been out with a back injury since the season opener, has been cleared for contact as the Kings hope to be completely healthy when they try to defend last season’s Stanley Cup championship in the postseason. A victory on Thursday would bring Los Angeles within two points of clinching a playoff spot. the Kings are 8-4-1 against Central Division opponents.
OVERTIME
1. Columbus last qualified for the playoffs in 2009, but was swept by Detroit in the opening round.
2. Los Angeles has never swept the Blue Jackets in a season series.
3. The five-game winning streak ties a season high for the Blue Jackets, who have not won six in a row since setting a franchise record from March 24-April 3, 2006.
PREDICTION: Kings 2, Blue Jackets 1