Preview: Blue Jackets can clinch, but focus squarely on downing Detroit

GAME 80: RED WINGS (30-38-11) AT BLUE JACKETS (44-29-6)
Location:Nationwide Arena, 7 p.m., Tuesday
TV:Fox Sports Ohio/Fox Sports Go (Jeff Rimer, Jody Shelley); Fox Sports Detroit
Radio:97.1 FM & BlueJackets.com (Bob McElligott)
Another win plus some help from the Nashville Predators could result in the Blue Jackets clinching a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time.
The Blue Jackets can clinch with a victory of any kind against the Detroit Red Wings plus a Nashville victory against the Florida Panthers by any means (regulation, overtime or shootout). They can also clinch with a loss in overtime or shootout and a Panthers loss in regulation.
Columbus is focused only on the Red Wings, but another postseason appearance is getting close.
"I'm pleased that we have an opportunity to play another game and we're still in the hunt," coach John Tortorella said Monday after practice at the OhioHealth Ice Haus. "So, get ready for Detroit [Tuesday]. I'm happy that game means something … glad [it's] an important game for us."

A month ago, things didn't look as good for the Jackets, who went 10-11-2 through January and February and dropped just outside the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference.
They treaded water during a spate of injuries in January that took out four key players at the same time, added three veteran pickups at the NHL Trade Deadline in February and had a scorching March to get back into the race. That included a 10-game winning streak and 12-3-1 record through 16 games last month.
"I think they've handled themselves well, in a situation where I think a lot of people thought we were dead and gone," Tortorella said. "I really feel the most important part of this team was when ... our top players were out. We held [ourselves] together, we held our water and I think played .500 hockey at that point in time, until we got healthy. I respect the fact they hung in there."
The job isn't done, but continuing the hunt for the postseason is a lot more enjoyable than trying to spoil it for somebody else, like the Red Wings will attempt Tuesday.
"It's no fun to be playing games just because they're on the schedule," Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson said. "It's always fun to play hockey, but knowing that you're going to be done in a couple days, that's not the greatest thing in the world. It makes for a long summer. Obviously, these games are fun, they're exciting."
SERIES RECORD
2017-18 Season: (2-0-0). This is the finale of the three-game series, which Columbus can sweep with a win. The Blue Jackets won the first game, 2-1 in a nine-round shootout Nov. 11 at Little Caesar's Arena and then won the second game, 3-2, on Mar. 9 at Nationwide Arena.
All-time (W-L-T-O): 33-42-1-12 overall; 19-18-1-7 at Nationwide Arena

WHO'S HOT
Red Wings: Dylan Larkin and Andreas Athanasiou each scored goals in the past two games; Larkin has 10 points (five goals, five assists) in the past seven contests.
Blue Jackets: Seth Jones had a career-high four points (one goal, three assists) against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday. Jones scored the game's first goal on a power play and assisted on three straight goals late in the third to force overtime.
SPECIAL TEAMS
POWER PLAY
Columbus
Detroit
PENALTY KILL
Columbus
Detroit

SCOUTING REPORT
EYES ON: THE RED WINGS
EYES ON: THE BLUE JACKETS
PROJECTED LINEUPS
RED WINGS
Forwards
Tyler Bertuzzi - Henrik Zetterberg - Gustav Nyquist
Darren Helm - Dylan Larkin - Anthony Mantha
Andreas Athanasiou - Frans Nielsen - Justin Abdelkader
Martin Frk - Luke Glendening - Evgeny Svechnikov
Defensemen
Jonathan Ericsson - Trevor Daley
Niklas Kronwall - Nick Jensen
Dan DeKeyser - Joe Hicketts
Goaltenders
Jimmy Howard
Jared Coreau
Others: David Booth, Mike Green (neck), Luke Witkowski, Xavier Ouellet
Injured Reserve: None
BLUE JACKETS
Forwards
Sonny Milano - Pierre-Luc Dubois- Cam Atkinson
Artemi Panarin - Alex Wennberg -- Bjorkstrand
Boone Jenner - Mark Letestu - Thomas Vanek
Matt Calvert - Brandon Dubinsky - Markus Hannikainen
Defensemen
Zach Werenski - Seth Jones
Ian Cole - David Savard
Ryan Murray - Jack Johnson
Goaltenders
Sergei Bobrovsky
Joonas Korpisalo
Others: Scott Harrington, Taylor Chorney, Lukas Sedlak (upper body), Nick Foligno (lower body), Markus Nutivaara, Josh Anderson (knee), Dean Kukan, Alex Broadhurst, Eric Robinson
Injured reserve: None