Friday NHL Preview: Ducks vs. Blue Jackets

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Friday NHL Preview: Ducks vs. Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets keep suffering from some ugly losses and they hope a game against the Ducks will finally get them a win.

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The Jackets and Ducks have split two meetings so far this season, with Anaheim taking the last one 7-4 on Jan. 8 at Honda Center.

As Columbus tries to bounce back from yet another difficult loss in the finale of its six-game road trip, Anaheim is looking to do some bouncing back of its own in hopes of making an unlikely run at the West's top eight.

Few seasons on record have been as frustrating as what has transpired in central Ohio this season. The Blue Jackets currently have the worst record in the League, but their meager point total does little to show the true measure of misfortune for Columbus. The team has been beset on all sides by numerous injuries, bad breaks and a coaching change, which has left the Jackets out of the playoff discussion and the center of a number of swirling rumors regarding this month's trade deadline.

Columbus is coming off another frustrating loss Wednesday night, in which the team lost on a buzzer-beating goal by L.A.'s Drew Doughty with 0.4 seconds left. Referee Steven Walkom originally waved off the goal, but video replay showed the puck crossed the goal line with less than a second to play -- though television replays indicated that the game clock stopped briefly with 1.8 seconds remaining before starting again. While the NHL said in a statement Thursday that "the League has begun a thorough review into the matter," the loss still stings for the Jackets, who wrap up a six-game road swing in Anaheim. Even more frustrating is another loss Friday will leave them flying back home with no victories on the entire trip.

As frustrating as Columbus' season has been, Anaheim was in the same boat for much of the first half, suffering tough losses and enduring inexplicable troubles on offense. After a coaching change of their own, however, the Ducks appear to have turned things around. Despite a rough 6-2 loss to Dallas on Wednesday night, the Ducks are 9-2-1 in their last 12 games. While they are still double digit points out of the West's final playoff spot, and a berth is unlikely, the change in play has started to get the attention of the rest of the conference, which would be wise to fear a team with so many potent weapons.

These tow hard-luck teams will face off on Friday and one of them finally will have to get a win to hopefully turn the season in a different direction.