Vancouver @ Columbus preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 24, 2019 ) Columbus 5, Vancouver 0

The injury-riddled Columbus Blue Jackets are holding on to the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference by one point despite recording just one win in their last 11 games (1-5-5) and will attempt to turn things around Sunday when they host the Vancouver Canucks. All-star defenseman Seth Jones and top goal-scorer Oliver Bjorkstrand, each questionable to return before the end of the regular season with ankle injuries, are among 10 regulars currently sidelined for the Blue Jackets.

The rash of injuries has forced Columbus to fill out its lineup with mostly rookies, which has made a big difference for a team who had two regulation victories in February while eight of their 15 games needed extra time. “The older guys need to show the way, show how we need to play,” Blue Jackets defenseman David Savard told the media following a 5-0 setback to Minnesota on Friday. “We’ve got to play physical, simple like a playoff team. We’ve got to treat every game as a playoff if we want to get in.” The Canucks are one of seven teams fighting for four playoff spots in the Western Conference and will be happy to leave Ontario after a 4-2 loss to Toronto on Saturday followed a 5-2 setback Thursday to Ottawa - the league’s third-worst team. During a crucial stretch in its playoff chase, Vancouver is dealing with an injury to its most important player this season as all-star goaltender Jacob Markstrom (23-16-4) missed the last three games with a lower-body injury and will be out at least the next two weeks.

TIME: 7 p.m. ET. TV: FS Ohio, Sportsnet

ABOUT THE CANUCKS (34-24-6): Filling in for Markstrom is 24-year-old Thatcher Demko, who is 16-11-3 with a .905 save percentage in 33 career appearances. Left wing Tanner Pearson scored his 19th of the season Saturday and is five shy of tying his career high of 24 set with the Kings in 2016-17. Second-year center Elias Pettersson and 26-year-old forward J.T. Miller are tied for the team lead in goals with 25 while rookie defenseman Quinn Hughes has a team-best 43 assists.

ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (31-21-14): Columbus has been playing from behind early and often as it has surrendered the opening goal less than five minutes into the first period in five of their last 10 games. Goaltender Joonas Korpisalo made his first start Friday since a Dec. 29 knee injury but was pulled after allowing four goals on 15 shots to Minnesota, the team's second setback to the Wild in four days following a 5-4 loss Tuesday. Bjorkstrand, who has missed the last four games, finished as the team’s leading scorer in February with five goals and nine points in 11 games.

OVERTIME

1. The 14 losses Columbus has complied in overtimes and shootouts are the most in the NHL this season - two more than Boston, New Jersey, and Ottawa.

2. The Canucks finish a four-game road trip Sunday and play their next four at home, where they are 12-2-1 in their last 15 games.

3. The Blue Jackets scored a league-low three power-play goals on 34 opportunities in February.

PREDICTION: Canucks 5, Jackets 2