Surging Blue Jackets go for 7th in row vs. Senators
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Columbus Blue Jackets will be looking for their seventh consecutive victory to stay firmly in the race for an Eastern Conference playoff berth when the play host to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night at Nationwide Arena. The Blue Jackets (38-28-5) enter the third and final meeting of the season with the Senators tied for third place with the Philadelphia Flyers in the Metropolitan Division. But they are just one point ahead of the New Jersey Devils for the first wild card and four in front of the surging Florida Panthers. "This is why you play hockey," Columbus winger Matt Calvert said. "You play to get in the playoffs. You play to play playoff hockey. "When you're in March, it'd be nice to be first in the division and be comfortable, like we were last year, but at the same time you've got to battle through a lot of adversity. You've got to win every night. I think it gets you tougher and only makes you better for the playoffs when you do make it." The Senators, who are next to last in the Atlantic Division, will be playing the second game of a back-to-back after edging the Dallas Stars 3-2 in overtime on Friday night in Ottawa. The Blue Jackets, who also carry a six-game home win streak into Saturday's game, can't afford a letdown in their late-season playoff push. The Devils are right behind and the Panthers are charging like gangbusters. "We're fighting for a playoff spot and it's really tight now," Columbus winger Oliver Bjorkstrand said. "For us, it shouldn't matter who we play. We have to make sure we don't get in our minds it's going to be an easier game because it's not. You've got to be ready to play and be ready when the puck drops. With only 11 games left, every game is important." The Blue Jackets extended their streak with a 5-3 victory on the road against Philadelphia on Thursday night. Winger Cam Atkinson played a major role in the outcome with a hat trick, his first in two years. "We're playing our best hockey right now and this is when you want to be playing your best hockey," Atkinson said. Atkinson has found a home on the first line since he returned from a broken ankle and after forward Josh Anderson suffered a knee injury. "I think he's found himself and he's pretty excited," Columbus coach John Tortorella said. "He doesn't want to be moved off that line. A lot of things come into him playing better at this time." The additions of Thomas Vanek, Mark Letestu and Ian Cole at the trade deadline last month brought a veteran presence to one of the youngest teams in the league. The Blue Jackets also are getting stellar goaltending from Sergei Bobrovsky and two-way contributions from defensemen Zach Werenski and Seth Jones. During Columbus' current winning streak, which matches its longest of the season, the team is averaging nearly two more goals per game. "It just comes back to our confidence level and we're feeling better as a team," said Bjorkstrand, who scored a goal in Thursday's win over the Flyers. The Senators' recent surge includes a sweep in Florida against the Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning before Friday's win at home over the Stars. "Three in a row against two teams trying to make the playoffs and the other team is the best team in the league," Ottawa center Matt Duchene said, according to the Ottawa Sun. "There was some really good stuff. We're showing the kind of team we are in here. It's too bad it's so late in the season and we couldn't do this earlier in the year. "It wasn't for a lack of trying. We want to go in the summer on a high note and we're well on our way." Duchene scored the go-ahead goal in the third period and Mike Hoffman won it at 3:26 of overtime on a one-timer off a pass from Duchene. "We knew they were going to come out hungry," Hoffman said. "It was a good game back and forth." Craig Anderson made 23 saves to pick up his 21st win of the season, but backup Mike Condon is expected to start against the Blue Jackets. The season series between the Senators and Blue Jackets is tied 1-1. Both teams won the previous meetings on their home ice. |