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After a couple days off, the Blue Jackets (30-35-4) will be back in action tonight as they kick off their Western Canada road trip against the Oilers (19-39-2) at 10 eastern.
Columbus may not be in the playoff hunt, but their next few games will certainly have an impact on the playoff race. Both Vancouver and Calgary are either a) jockeying for position or; b) trying to squeak their way into the playoffs, so these will be important games.
Up first are the Oilers, who are tied for 2nd last with 50 points, and just three points behind the Sabres for last place.
Edmonton is coming off an impressive win against the Maple Leafs, however, they've lost eight of 10, and are still without their best player in Taylor Hall.
They certainly aren't without skill, though, as they are led by Jordan Eberle (11 points in his last five) and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (10 points in his last five), who both enter tonight's game red hot.
Columbus will try to counter-act that firepower with some of their own. Obviously Ryan Johansen and Nick Foligno are the key cogs, but Scott Hartnell has scored in four consecutive games (five goals in that span) while Marko Dano has four points in his last three - including two against Edmonton - playing alongside Alex Wennberg, who has also been good.
Neither of these teams are particularly good defensively, and the goaltending matchup looks to be Curtis McElhinney vs either Ben Scrivens or Viktor Fasth, both of whom have sub .900SV%, so there could be plenty of offense in this one.
Offensive hockey is fun hockey, at least when the game doesn't have much meaning.
What to watch:
1) Alex Wennberg had two assists and the shootout winner last time Columbus played Edmonton. He's been playing better hockey of late, and has two hot linemates in Hartnell and Dano. I wouldn't be surprised to see him end up on the scoresheet.
2) Few players have been as exciting to watch as Marko Dano lately. He's getting a bump in ice time, is playing with confidence, and is playing with quality linemates. As a result, the points are starting to come, and so are the highlight real plays.
3) It's not a rivalry by any means, but it's always fun to see two top picks from their draft class square off. We'll get that opportunity tonight, as Ryan Murray will get the chance to defend against Nail Yakupov, who has points in four consecutive games.
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