GAME 65: BLUE JACKETS (32-27-5) AT DUCKS (31-21-12)
Location:Honda Center, 10 P.M., Friday
TV:Fox Sports Ohio/Fox Sports Go (Jeff Rimer, Jody Shelley); Fox Sports West, Sportsnet 360
Radio:97.1 FM & BlueJackets.com (Bob McElligott)
The downside of playing the second game in a back-to-back is the physical wear-and-tear built up from playing just 24 hours earlier. The upside is that is gives a team the chance to quickly recover from a stinging loss the night before.
That's the part the Blue Jackets are banking on after losing, 5-2, to the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday at Staples Center. Columbus lost despite racing out to a 2-0 lead in the first period, allowing five unanswered goals in the next 40 minutes.
"It's absolutely the best part of this league sometimes, is you get a chance to get right back at it sometimes 24 hours later," said captain Nick Foligno, who returned from a four-game absence Thursday after a lower-body injury. "We're looking forward to another good team in Anaheim. We're looking to get off to a good start again but carrying it through the game."
That's been an ongoing issue throughout much of the season.
The Blue Jackets have developed a habit of playing strong right out of the gate, taking leads in the first periods of games and then having things fall apart in the second and third. It happened again in Los Angeles and they know it needs to be corrected quickly.
Columbus only has 18 games left in the regular season and is clinging to the second wild card in the Eastern Conference. The Blue Jackets are just two points up on the Carolina Hurricanes and three in front of the Florida Panthers, after both teams picked up victories Thursday.
Preview: Jackets look to bounce back from tough loss in L.A.
Columbus occupies East's second wild card, but not by much