Game Day #79: Blue Jackets Still Alive For Playoff Spot, Face Capitals In Early Puck-Drop Saturday

Stayin' alive.

That's been the theme this week for the Columbus Blue Jackets, as they've been able to avoid an official elimination in the race for a playoff spot by picking up consecutive wins and getting a little help from around the league.

When they face the Washington Capitals at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, any outcome that isn't a regulation loss will keep them alive for at least a little while longer.

Winning the game is most important, of course, although winning in regulation would be even better for the Blue Jackets as it would help them in tiebreaker scenarios.

An overtime loss would give them the point they need to avoid being mathematically eliminated at game's end, though would make the already improbable even less likely.

If Columbus can get at least a point this afternoon, attention would then shift to the Montreal Canadiens tonight. They're in Toronto for a 7 p.m. battle against the Maple Leafs. No matter what Columbus' result is in their game, a regulation win from the Canadiens eliminates the Blue Jackets.

Head coach Dean Evason said that Columbus is more focused on what they can control.

“We have to be desperate," said Evason after the Thursday win over Buffalo. "We’re more worried about what we’re doing. We played well enough and hard enough here to get two points."

"We need to continue to do that in the last four games.”

Here's what else to know before the Blue Jackets and Capitals kick off their back-to-back, home-and-home set:

• RE: CAPS
  Alex Ovechkin, the league's new all-time leading goal scorer, will not play. He's being given the day off for rest as the Caps have wrapped up the Eastern Conference. ... The Capitals have been amongst the NHL's best teams all season long and their 109 points is just three behind the Winnipeg Jets for the best record in the league. But they've cooled off just a bit recently, going 5-4-1 in their last ten. ... Washington's goaltending tandem has been one of their biggest surprises of the year. Logan Thompson (43 games played) and Charlie Lindgren (37) have both been dynamite and the duo has a 2.60 goals against average and .903 save percentage on the year. Thompson (2.49, .910) has fared slightly better than Lindgren (2.74, .893). Today, though, it's the season debut of Hunter Shepard. This will be just his fifth NHL game, with the other four coming last season.
   
• 12 FROM A RECORD
  With four games left, the Blue Jackets need 12 more goals to break a franchise record for the most goals in a season. The 247 they've scored this season ranks as the fourth best, with the all-time record of 258 coming in the 2021-22 season. Three goals per game over the last week will give them the mark.
   
• LINEUPS CHANGES & PROJECTIONS:
  Jordan Harris is in for Jake Christiansen, who left Thursday's game with an upper-body injury. Jet Greaves gets his second consecutive start after the dazzling, 39-save performance Thursday night. Here are the projected lines: