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Sharks look to end two-game skid vs. Blue Jackets

Feb 7, 2009 - 12:47 PM San Jose (36-7-6) at Columbus (24-23-5), 7:00 p.m. EST

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Ticker) -- After suffering back-to-back losses at home for the first time this season, the San Jose Sharks could view their ensuing five-game road trip as a relief.

Looking to bounce back from two straight setbacks, the Sharks begin their trek against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday.

Coming off a 4-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks at HP Pavilion on Saturday, San Jose did little to overcome their shoddy effort in Thursday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.

Ryane Clowe scored a goal and set up another and defensemen Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Alexei Semenov each tallied, while Milan Michalek notched a career-high three assists for the Sharks, who fell for the first time this season when leading after two periods.

San Jose, which has won three in a row at home, also begins a stretch of playing nine of 12 away from HP Pavilion.

The Blue Jackets, meanwhile, were clearly affected by the absence of rookie netminder Steve Mason in their 4-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday.

Columbus has dropped three contests in a row and things certainly will not get any easier with Mason suffering from mononucleosis.

The 20-year-old sensation appeared sluggish in the Blue Jackets' 4-2 setback to the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday, but may start in net for this contest despite his ailment.