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Blue Jackets, Kings searching for offense

Mar 3, 2009 - 3:07 PM Los Angeles (26-27-9) at Columbus (31-26-6) 7:00 p.m. EST

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Ticker) -- The Columbus Blue Jackets are happy to be returning home after struggling to find the back of the net on their recent road trip.

The Blue Jackets look to bounce back Tuesday when they host the slumping Los Angeles Kings.

Columbus scored only three goals en route to a 1-2-0 mark on its three-game road trip.

After opening the trek with a 4-1 loss to the Calgary Flames, Raffi Torres scored on a breakaway nearly eight minutes into the third period and rookie Steve Mason made 19 saves as the Blue Jackets bounced back with a 1-0 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday.

The momentum was short-lived, though, as Columbus dropped a 3-1 decision to the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday.

The Blue Jackets' inability to score was a direct result of their NHL-worst power-play unit. Columbus, which has converted only 12.3 percent of its power plays this season, was 0-for-13 with a man advantage during the road trip.

The Kings also have been struggling to score goals during their three-game slide.

Following a 2-0 shutout against the Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles was outscored, 6-3, over its last two contests, suffering setbacks to the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks.