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Flames, Blue Jackets face off in pivotal battle

Mar 18, 2008 - 12:07 PM Calgary (37-25-10) vs. Columbus (32-29-11) 7:00 pm EDT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Ticker) - The Calgary Flames are locked in a battle for a Western Conference playoff berth. The Columbus Blue Jackets would like to be included in the equation.

The teams square off on Tuesday for the fourth and final time this season.

The Flames have won the last two meetings, allowing only one goal. The Blue Jackets, who have never qualified for the postseason in their franchise history, are currently on the outside looking in at a playoff berth in the West.

Calgary snapped a two-game losing streak on Sunday with a 4-2 victory over Chicago. Columbus set a franchise record with 75 points in a critical 4-3 victory over the NHL-leading Detroit Red Wings on Sunday.

Blue Jackets backup goaltender Fredrik Norrena made 43 saves in place of Pascal Leclaire, who sat out with flu symptoms.

Manny Malhotra had two goals and a career-high three points in the victory.

Both teams are 5-3-2 in their last 10 games. The Flames, who are tied with Colorado (39-29-6) and Vancouver (37-26-10), trail Northwest Division-leading Minnesota (39-26-8) by two points.