The set-up: The 23-24-6 Vancouver Canucks continue a six-game road trip when they play at the 34-13-5 Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night. Tuesday's 4-2 loss Tuesday's at Nashville was the first game on the road trek and leaves Vancouver seven points out of the wild card race while Columbus has followed its historic franchise record 16-game win streak earlier this year by going 7-8-1 since (Blue Jackets have 73 points, second-most in the East to the Caps' 80).

Vancouver: The Canucks limp in on an overall four-game slide, getting outscored 17-6. Vancouver is just 6-16-3 away from Rogers Arena this season. The Canucks will likely be without forward Sven Baertschi, who sustained a concussion in Tuesday's game. He (13-14-27) is the fourth leading scorer for Vancouver Ryan Miller has yielded 15 goals during his four-game losing skid and is expected to be in goal tonight. He is 2-8-2 with a 3.18 goals-against average on the road this season.

Columbus: Winning just seven of its last 16 contests since that 16-game winning streak has head coach John Tortorella concerned, as Columbus plays in the top-heavy Metropolitan Division (along with Washington, Pittsburgh has 72 points and the NY Rangers 69). "We need to reinvent ourselves and get the chip back on our shoulder," Tortorella said. "We need to embrace this challenge. It's how you grow as a player. It's our home building. I think we have to get some consistency, how we start the game first of all, and make sure (Nationwide Arena) is a tough place to play."

The pick: Here's a good chance to do just that, as Columbus opens a season-high seven-game homestand with this contest. The Blue Jackets have been strong at home all year, going 18-6-1 while allowing just 2.20 GPG. The Under is a 10* play.