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Hot teams meet when Blue Jackets visit Flames

Feb 24, 2009 - 2:15 PM Columbus (30-24-6) at Calgary (35-18-6) 9:00 p.m. EST

CALGARY, Alberta (Ticker) -- The Columbus Blue Jackets open a three-game road swing against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday.

The Blue Jackets, who are currently sixth in the Western Conference standings as they attempt to make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, were 6-0-1 in their previous seven games before dropping a 5-2 decision to the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday.

Captain Rick Nash and Kristian Huselius each netted power-play goals for Columbus, which saw its two-game winning streak came to an end despite holding a 28-13 margin in shots.

Rookie Steve Mason stopped eight shots against the Ducks, falling to 4-1-1 since returning from a brief stint on injured reserve with mononucleosis.

Mason, who is 23-13-3 with a 2.17 goals-against average this season, will need to be at his best against the Northwest Division-leading Flames.

With a thrilling 3-2 shootout victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday, Calgary earned its second straight win and improved to 5-0-2 since opening February with four consecutive regulation losses.

Matthew Lombardi forged a tie with 65 seconds remaining in the third period and Todd Bertuzzi netted the lone goal in the first round of the shootout.