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Blue Jackets host Kings seeking to snap slide

Mar 11, 2011 - 4:08 PM (Sports Network) - The Columbus Blue Jackets will try to put the brakes on a six-game losing streak when they host the Los Angeles Kings this evening at Nationwide Arena.

The Blue Jackets have greatly damaged their postseason chances with their recent 0-3-3 slide and they are currently eight points behind Los Angeles for eighth in the Western Conference.

The Kings, meanwhile, are coming off a solid victory over the Detroit Red Wings and have a 5-2-1 mark over their last eight contests.

The Blue Jackets, who have made the postseason just once since entering the league in 2000, were handed their two most recent losses after getting swept in a home-and-home series with St. Louis.

The Blues recorded a 5-4 shootout victory on home ice this past Monday and then notched an overtime win two days later in Columbus. Chris Stewart scored his second goal of the game 54 seconds into OT to lead St. Louis to the 4-3 win at Nationwide Arena.

Jakub Voracek, R.J. Umberger and Derek MacKenzie notched the goals for the Blue Jackets, who have lost every game during this six-game slide by a single goal. Columbus netminder Mathieu Garon made 22 saves in defeat.

"For about 33 minutes, we did everything we wanted to do, we played hard, created chances, had some opportunities and scored some goals," Columbus head coach Scott Arniel said. "For the remaining 27 minutes, we stopped playing. We got careless and got away from what we were doing right in the first half of the game."

Columbus has a 16-13-3 record as the host this season and had won two straight on home ice before Wednesday's tilt against the Blues.

Los Angeles recorded a 4-3 shootout win over the hosting Blue Jackets when the clubs met last on Feb. 16. The Kings have taken two of three from Columbus this year and have five victories in the last six encounters overall. LA has also won two straight and four of its last six tests in the Buckeye State.

The Kings halted a two-game slide and began a four-game road trip with a win Wednesday night in Detroit. Jonathan Quick made 28 saves to help give Los Angeles the 2-1 regulation victory at Joe Louis Arena.

Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown each had a goal for the Kings, who improved to 17-14-3 as the road club this season.

"Every point is huge now so to come into this building and get a win is a huge accomplishment," said Kopitar. "But we can't sit on this and we have a bunch of tough games ahead of us."

Quick is expected to get the start in net for Los Angeles, but it's uncertain if Garon or Steve Mason will be between the pipes for the Blue Jackets.