Game Day #58: Blue Jackets, Red Wings Meet For Crucial Two Points To Kick Off Home-And-Home That Culminates Saturday At The Shoe

Thursday will set the tone for Saturday.

But make no mistake about it: both games in the Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings home-and-home series are imperative in the Eastern Conference wild card race.

The two teams will meet Thursday night in Detroit before their Saturday showdown at The Shoe in The Stadium Series, separated by just two points for the two wild card spots. Three more teams (the New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, and Boston Bruins) are just two points behind Columbus' 64, which currently is good enough for the final wild card position.

The Red Wings won the first game of the season series, a 5-4 heartbreaker for the Blue Jackets back on Jan. 2nd that saw Columbus give up a goal in the final minute of what was a tie game. Detroit scored two power-play goals in the game, while Columbus struck once on the man-advantage.

Special teams could play a factor in this one, too: the Red Wings convert on the power-play at a nearly 30% rate, second best in the NHL. But they're also dead last on the penalty kill, at just under 70%. Which team can play a more disciplined game could make all the difference.

Here's what else to know when the Blue Jackets and Red Wings kick off a huge few days of hockey for the two teams:

• RE: RED WINGS
  Like the Stars did on Tuesday night, the Red Wings come into their matchup with the Blue Jackets having gone 8-1-1 in their last ten games. ... Detroit has three forwards with 22+ goals this season: Alex DeBrincat leads the team with 26, followed closely by Dylan Larkin (24) and Lucas Raymond (22). ... Cam Talbot will man the net for the Red Wings. He's 17-11-3 this season, with a goals against average of 2.85 and a save percentage of .905. He's allowed 13 goals in his last four starts, an average of 3.25 per start.
   
• TARASOV GETS THE START 
  Opposite of Talbot will be Daniil Tarasov, who gets his first start since a January 31st overtime win over the Utah Hockey Club. The season stats are nothing to write home about (.876 save percentage, 3.69 goals against), but the 25-year-old did give up two or less goals in three of his four starts in January, going 2-1-1 in those games.
   
• TOP LINE IS GELLIN'
   Kirill Marchenko picked up his third two-goal game of the season in Tuesday's win over Dallas, Dmitri Voronkov had two assists for the second consecutive game, and Adam Fantilli scored a goal and had an assist to make it three games in a row with a point for the young center. This Blue Jackets top line is rolling right now, even without veteran Sean Monahan — who is skating as he continues to work his way back from a wrist injury.
   
• LINEUPS & PROJECTIONS
  Aside from Tarasov getting the start over Elvis Merzlikins, no other lineup changes are expected. Here are the lineup projections: