Preview: Blue Jackets at Flames

BLUE JACKETS (18-5-4) at FLAMES (16-14-2)
9 p.m. ET; SNW, FS-O, NHL.TV

#

Blue Jackets team scope

The Columbus Blue Jackets will go for their eighth consecutive victory Friday, which would match the second-longest winning streak in franchise history, set from Jan. 6-23, 2014. Their record is nine straight wins, set from March 18-April 4, 2015. The Blue Jackets have outscored opponents 22-4 in the third period during a run where they've earned points in 14 of the past 15 games (12-1-2). "We go into the third period feeling confident right now," center Brandon Dubinsky told the Columbus Dispatch. "Right now, it feels like we know we're going to win the hockey game. Guys are composed. We keep our structure." Columbus, which leads the NHL with a .741 points percentage, last lost in regulation on Nov. 23, a 2-0 defeat against the Calgary Flames. The Blue Jackets have held opponents to two goals or fewer in each of the past eight games, and 19 of 27 games this season. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who could start his fifth straight game, has allowed eight goals in his past six starts -- all wins. He 15-2-1 and has allowed 31 goals in his past 18 starts.

Flames team scope

The Flames' season-high six-game winning streak ended with a 6-3 loss against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday. "We want to gauge ourselves against one of the top teams in the league," captain Mark Giordano said. "Especially coming off a game we weren't really pleased the way we played. I think our compete has to come up, and we have to be better in those battle areas." The Flames are 11-4-1 in their past 16 games, including a 2-0 win at Columbus on Nov. 23. Goaltender Chad Johnson, who made 34 saves to shut out the Blue Jackets in that game, will make his eighth consecutive start. "He was really solid that game. Real clean," coach Glen Gulutzan said. "Almost like an effortless game when they did have a lot of pressure and sustained pressure on us. I thought that was one of his cleanest and calmest games of the season." Johnson has allowed 13 goals in his past seven starts, including four on 21 shots before being pulled after two periods against the Lightning. "We want to get him right back in there," Gulutzan said. "He's had such a long stretch of real good hockey. We want to get him back in."

Blue Jackets projected lineup

Brandon Saad -- Alexander Wennberg -- Nick Foligno
Boone Jenner -- Brandon Dubinsky -- Cam Atkinson
Matt Calvert -- William Karlsson -- Josh Anderson
Scott Hartnell -- Lukas Sedlak -- Sam Gagner
Zach Werenski -- Seth Jones
Jack Johnson -- David Savard
Ryan Murray -- Markus Nutivaara
Sergei Bobrovsky
Curtis McElhinney
Scratched:Oliver Bjorkstrand, Scott Harrington
Injured:David Clarkson (lower body), Dalton Prout (back)

Flames projected lineup

Matthew Tkachuk -- Mikael Backlund -- Michael Frolik
Johnny Gaudreau -- Sam Bennett -- Alex Chiasson
Kris Versteeg -- Sean Monahan -- Troy Brouwer
Lance Bouma -- Matt Stajan -- Micheal Ferland
Mark Giordano -- Dougie Hamilton
TJ Brodie -- Dennis Wideman
Jyrki Jokipakka -- Deryk Engelland
Chad Johnson
Brian Elliott
Scratched: Freddie Hamilton, Garnet Hathaway, Tyler Wotherspoon
Injured: Ladislav Smid (neck)

Status report

The Blue Jackets did not hold a skate Friday. The Flames held an optional skate. Johnson is starting for the 15th time in the past 17 games.

Who's hot

Gagner has eight points (four goals, four assists) in his past four games, and Atkinson has seven points (three goals, four assists) in a four-game point streak. … Gaudreau has nine points (two goals, seven assists) in a five-game point streak since his return from missing 10 games with a fractured finger. … Monahan has 10 points (four goals, six assists) in an eight-game point streak.