Columbus @ Buffalo preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 29, 2019 ) Buffalo 5, Columbus 4

The Columbus Blue Jackets have been on fire of late and will be a team with which to be reckoned in the postseason, but they have to get there first. Columbus attempts to strengthen its chances for a playoff spot when it vies for a fifth straight victory Sunday against the host Buffalo Sabres.

The Blue Jackets lost three in a row (0-2-1) prior to their winning streak, which was extended with Saturday's 5-2 triumph in Nashville. Cam Atkinson scored twice while Artemi Panarin recorded four assists for Columbus, which has the advantage over Montreal for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference and sits one point behind Carolina for the first spot. The Blue Jackets also have a shot at third place in the Metropolitan Division as it trails Pittsburgh by three points with four games remaining. Buffalo begins a three-game homestand with hopes of halting a slide that reached six games (0-5-1) with Saturday's 5-1 road setback against the New York Islanders.

TV: 6 p.m. ET, TVA, FS Ohio (Columbus), MSG (Buffalo)

ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (44-30-4): Atkinson's first goal on Saturday was his 40th of the season, marking the first time in his career he has reached the plateau. Panarin's performance against the Predators was one to remember as he set career highs in assists (56) and points (83), eclipsing the marks of 55 and 82, respectively, that he recorded last season. The 27-year-old Russian also reached a milestone on Saturday as his third assist of the game was his 200th in the NHL.

ABOUT THE SABRES (31-37-10): Victor Olofsson is doing his best to prove he deserves a roster spot next season, as he recorded an assist in his NHL debut against Detroit on Thursday and scored his first career goal in the loss to the Islanders. The 23-year-old Swede, who was a seventh-round pick in the 2014 draft, registered 27 tallies and 33 assists in 64 games with Rochester of the American Hockey League this season. Kyle Okposo is one assist shy of 300 for his career while Jeff Skinner, who is one goal away from setting a new career high of 38, needs two assists to reach 200 in the NHL.

OVERTIME

1. Blue Jackets C Boone Jenner scored on Saturday to get within one point of 200 for his career.

2. Buffalo has not won in regulation since Feb. 23, going 2-13-2 during a span that includes one overtime victory and one shootout win.

3. Columbus RW Oliver Bjorkstrand is riding a four-game goal-scoring streak and has scored six in as many contests to reach 20 for the first time in his career.

PREDICTION: Blue Jackets 4, Sabres 1