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Both teams looking to end their losing streaks

The Jackets lost their last three games, the Jets their last two

The Columbus Blue Jackets continue to lose. The recently had a two-game flash in which they somehow managed to win, but they're so mangled by injuries this season that they simply have nothing to resist with. The Wings recently beat them 5-0 on their own ice, then Boston beat them at home as well, though with a point won, and their last game was an away defeat in Philadelphia.

They had zero chance in that game. Philadelphia were hugely motivated to avenge their recent surprise loss and started fiercely from the very start. The total shooting statistic was 37-22 in favor of the Flyers and the Jackets only managed to parry in the first period. After the initial lead by the Flyers, Boone Jenner managed to equalize through a powerplay, but from then on the game was all about one team.


- Some players were in this game in the right way, but there were just not enough of them. We need more players playing at a high enough level to reach a positive result- said the Jackets trainer Todd Richards.


The fact his list of absent players is growing shorter gives him reason to be slightly optimistic. The list now contains "just" six players, and the ones on it are defenders Tyutin, Murray and Goloubef, and forwards Letestu, Dubinski and Horton.


The Winnipeg Jets are not doing much better lately either. While they played tough defense they managed to achieve results, as they could win a game even with a single goal scored, but they've been playing an increasingly open game lately, and their results reflect that. They lost four of their last five matches, and the last one was at home against St. Louis.


The Jets managed to take the lead through Bryan Little midway through the first period, but their penalty killling died in the second period. They conceded two goals while a man short, while they scored just one in the mean time, through Jim Slater, and entered the final period with a 2-2 score. However, the Blues scored right away, and reached the final 4-2 score by scoring on an empty goal.


- We're trying to be as aggressive as possible on defense, and will get better as time goes on- commented the Jets' coach, Paul Maurice, on their recent defensive fumbles.


He will have no absent players to worry about in this game.