Game Day #72: Blue Jackets, Senators Meet Saturday Night In Battle Of Wild Card Teams

One night after one of the more thrilling games of the season, the Columbus Blue Jackets are back at it Saturday night when they head north of the border to face the Ottawa Senators.

It's a battle between the two wild card teams in the Eastern conference: Ottawa's 81 points has them in the top spot by six points over the Blue Jackets, whose 75 points has them in a tie with the Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers for the second spot.

Columbus has played fewer games than both teams, giving them the tiebreaker.

Still, the playoff picture is changing on a daily basis and will continue to do so over the last three weeks of the season. That makes every game, and every point, critical.

It's something that the Blue Jackets are well aware of.

"Essentially, we control our own destiny down the stretch here, and every single guy in this locker room knows that," said defenseman Dante Fabbro, who had a goal and two assists as part of Friday's 7-6 shootout victory over the Vancouver Canucks.

While the Blue Jackets are six points behind Ottawa, this is the first of three meetings between the two teams over the next 11 nights: they have a home-and-home against each other that starts next Sunday in Ottawa before concluding Tuesday, April 8th, in Columbus. 

Catching the Sens would likely require the Blue Jackets to win all three games; a loss tonight, particularly in regulation, and Columbus could be able to focus in on just grabbing the second wild card spot. Regardless of which spot they get, there's no question that this is — as they all will be from here out — another season-defining game in the Blue Jackets' pursuit for a playoff spot.

Here's what else to know when the Blue Jackets and Senators face off in the Canadian capital:

• RE: SENS
  Ottawa was 7-0-1 to start March, but they've cooled off just a bit as of late, losing three of their last five. ... The Senators are tied for 18th at 2.92 goals per game, but are averaging 3.33 in the 15 games since play resumed after the 4 Nations break. They've also allowed 3.33 in those games. ... Linus Ullmark starts for Ottawa. He's been a good get for the Sens, who acquired him last offseason in a trade with the Boston Bruins. Ullmark is 20-13-3 with a 2.78 goals against average and .908 save percentage this season.
   
• BUCK THE BACK-TO-BACK TREND
  It's no secret that the Blue Jackets struggle on the second leg of a back-to-back. They're 1-8-0, have scored 18 goals in those nine games while allowing 44, and are a I-kid-you-not 3.9% on the power play. With three back-to-backs left this season — including one more in Ottawa even after tonight — Columbus needs to find a way to play better in these games.
   
• TARASOV STARTS FOR COLUMBUS
  While no official announcement has been made, it's almost certain that Daniil Tarasov will get the start for Columbus. He struggled mightily earlier in the season and has played only sparingly since then, but there has been improvement as the season's gone on. He's allowed three goals or less in each of his last four starts dating back to the end of January and a save percentage of .910 or higher in three of those.
   
• LINEUPS CHANGES & PROJECTIONS:
  Aside from Tarasov getting the start, there do not appear to be any changes to the forward or defensive groups. Head coach Dean Evason will confirm later this afternoon. Here are the complete lineup projections: