The set-up: The 29-24-4 Columbus Blue Jackets have 62 points, just sixth-best in the tightly-bunched Metropolitan Division. However, the team is just one point shy of the second and final wild card spot in the East. Columbus will welcome the Philadelphia Flyers to Nationwide Arena after becoming the first team since the NHL's expansion era began in 1967-68 to string together three straight games with at least 50 shots on goal. The Flyers finished on the short end of a 5-4 shootout with the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night but had won four in a row before the loss to the Devils. In fact, the Flyers are 12-5-2 since Jan. 1 and at 28-19-10 (66 points) tied for third in the Metropolitan Division.

Philadelphia: Captain Claude Giroux raised his point total to 32 (six goals, 26 assists) in his last 32 game,s after collecting a goal and an assist in Tuesday's 5-4 shootout loss to New Jersey. Defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere has been heating up on the ice with 11 points (one goal, 10 assists) in his past seven games. With goaltender Brian Elliott out for six weeks after undergoing core muscle surgery, the Flyers have to keep going for now with inconsistent Michal Neuvirth in goal. However, Neuvirth does owns a 2-1-0 mark with a 1.99 goals-against average and .934 save percentage against Columbus.

Columbus: The Blue Jackets were beaten 6-3 by the Maple Leafs on Wednesday night in Toronto and have now dropped six of their last eight (2-5-1) overall. Captain Nick Foligno scored two goals and set up another versus the Maple Leafs to increase his point total to 10 (four goals, six assists) in his past 12 games. Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky has reversed course from a sluggish start to February by turning aside 63 of 65 shots to record back-to-back victories.

The pick: With 25 games remaining, the Flyers and the Blue Jackets recognize the importance of each game against a division opponent in this, the competitive division in the NHL. Both team are fighting for a coveted playoff spot. Nine points separate second place and last place in the Metropolitan. However, while Columbus may be just 2-5-1 over their last eight, they enter this contest looking for their 12th consecutive home victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Getting back to Bobrovsky, the two-time Vezina Trophy recipient has tormented the Flyers since being traded from the club in June 2012, posting a 9-2-0 mark with two shutouts and a 1.79 goals-against average in 11 career encounters. Bobrovsky made 30 saves in the teams' meeting in December before stopping Sean Couturier, Giroux and Jakub Voracek in the shootout to preserve the victory. Make Columbus a 10* play.