GAME 68: AVALANCHE (35-24-7) AT BLUE JACKETS (34-28-5)
Location:Nationwide Arena, 7 P.M., Tuesday
TV:Fox Sports Ohio/Fox Sports Go (Jeff Rimer, Jody Shelley); Altitude TV
Radio:97.1 FM & BlueJackets.com (Bob McElligott)
If the Blue Jackets hope to win more than two consecutive games for the first time since November, they'll have to earn it against a Western Conference team in a similar spot.
They'll also have to do it without goalie Sergei Bobrovsky for a second straight game. Bobrovsky, who was sick and missed the Jackets' 4-1 victory Tuesday against the Vegas Golden Knights, will back up Joonas Korpisalo.
It's the second consecutive start for Korpisalo, who made 37 saves against the Golden Knights in a confidence-building rebound performance following struggles in four of his five prior appearances.
"It's great, for sure," Bobrovsky said. "It's great for everybody. It's great for him. It's great for [the] team. It's great for the organization. It was a huge two points and a huge game by him. It's nice to see him play confident, strong and win the game for the team."
Bobrovsky, who was unable to back up Korpisalo on Tuesday, participated in the morning skate at Nationwide Arena and said he feels better.
"I was sick, so that's what it is pretty much," he said. "It is what it is. I can't control that, and it makes no sense to [be] frustrated about that. That means I have to take care of my health at that time and make sure that I'm ready to go when I have a chance."
That chance could be against the Detroit Red Wings on Friday, in the conclusion of the 16th of 17 back-to-backs this season for Columbus - and only one with both games on home ice.
"It wasn't too long," Bobrovsky said of his illness. "I got fluid back, I've got good meals and I'm ready to go. Got some sleep, for sure."
Like Columbus, the Avalanche are in a heated race to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, sitting just outside the second wild card. They're tied with the Los Angeles Kings at 77 points, but the Kings currently hold the second wild card by a tiebreaker.
The Blue Jackets, after their victory Tuesday, have a slim lead for the East's second wild-card position. They're four points ahead of the Carolina Hurricanes, but just two points up on the Florida Panthers, who've played three less games.
If there is going to be postseason hockey in Columbus for a second straight season, the Blue Jackets likely need to string together more than just two wins at a time. If they can, the Jackets (73 points) can continue padding their lead and possibly catch the New Jersey Devils (76 points) for the first wild card.
That makes this game another big one.
"It's huge," captain Nick Foligno said. "We've had a little bit of a homestand here, so we need these wins. Let's be honest. We've got to be a good team at home. We've got to be a hard team to play against. I hope three [wins] turns into four, turns into five and we just continue to roll here."
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Blue Jackets looking to pad wild-card lead, win three straight for first time since Nov.
