Detroit @ Columbus preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 26, 2018 ) Columbus 7, Detroit 5

Wins have been hard to come by for the Columbus Blue Jackets, mainly due to a sputtering offense that has produced the fewest goals in the league. The Blue Jackets, however, are coming off a season-high goal output and are seeking to win three straight for the first time when they host the Detroit Red Wings in Thursday's finale of a three-game homestand.

Columbus had won its first seven games by one goal before the offense erupted in a 5-2 rout of Montreal on Tuesday, but coach John Tortorella was not showering his team with praise. "We made some offensive plays that we weren't in the prior games, but I think we have lost ourselves in terms of the identity of how hard you have to work," Tortorella said. "That has to be a staple of this hockey club." Detroit had won three in a row following a disastrous 1-11-1 stretch but followed that up with three straight defeats (0-1-2), failing to earn a point for the first time in six games with Tuesday's 4-3 setback versus Ottawa. "I think this is a game where we just have to after a long road trip, coming home and playing here at home, we gotta put it away," center Dylan Larkin said. "It's not the result we wanted but I think we gotta put this one in the past and move on."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, FS Ohio (Columbus)

ABOUT THE RED WINGS (7-13-3): Detroit will likely be short-handed against Columbus after defenseman Mike Green (upper body) and forward Darren Helm (lower body) exited Tuesday's game with injuries and were unable to practice the following day. "Mike Green appears to be, I'm going to say doubtful for tomorrow. Day-to-day," coach Jeff Blashill said Wednesday. "Helmer is questionable for tomorrow. Day-to-day." Forward Anthony Mantha recorded his team-leading 12th goal and has collected eight points in his last seven games.

ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (8-8-4): Center Pierre-Luc Dubois scored twice and set up another tally Tuesday, lifting his team-high totals to nine goals and 15 points, and Tortorella is waiting for his teammates to follow suit. "We need the core of this team to make a decision here on how we go about our business and drag people with them, and take the responsibility,” said Tortorella, who called Columbus' record through 20 games "despicable." The Blue Jackets have scored on the power play in four of the last five games.

OVERTIME

1. Blue Jackets F Emil Bemstrom tied the franchise record for a rookie with a five-game point streak.

2. Larkin had two goals and six points in three games versus Columbus last season.

3. Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno is eligible to return after serving a three-game suspension.

PREDICTION: Blue Jackets 4, Red Wings 3