Blue Jackets looking to reverse playoff fortunes at home

COLUMBUS --If the Columbus Blue Jackets are to have a chance at winning a Stanley Cup Playoff series for the first time, they must buck history that shows home ice has been of little advantage to them.
The Washington Capitals lead the best-of-7 Eastern Conference First Round 3-2 going into Game 6 at Nationwide Arena on Monday (7:30 p.m. ET; CNBC, SN, TVAS2, FS-O, NBCSWA).

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It was there where the Capitals won Games 3 and 4 after losing the first two at home. Washington defeated Columbus 4-3 in overtime of Game 5 at Capital One Arena, so it's the Blue Jackets' turn to hold serve or remain the lone active NHL franchise not to win a playoff series.
"We plan on being back for Game 7 because we plan on winning the series," Blue Jackets forward Nick Foligno said.
Columbus has a checkered past when it comes to home playoff games. To put it in perspective, the first-year Vegas Golden Knights have as many postseason home wins (2-0) as the Blue Jackets (2-7), who began play in the 2000-01 season.
"There's no common denominator," forward Matt Calvert said. "We talk about how good the fans are, how much fun it is to play here. It's time to start rewarding them. You win a series and your home record is going to start turning around."
The Blue Jackets are 1-2 when facing elimination at home. They lost Game 4 and were swept by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2009 Western Conference Quarterfinals. The Pittsburgh Penguins ended their season in Game 6 of the 2014 Eastern Conference First Round. Last season, Columbus staved off elimination in Game 4 but lost Game 5 in Pittsburgh.
Blue Jackets defenseman Ian Cole said some credit should be given to the opposition.
"It hasn't seemed to me over the years that hockey teams get intimidated by the opposing team's rink or atmosphere in the rink," he said. "The best way to think about it is you try to use whatever noise and energy to your advantage, whether it's home or away.
"The fans here have been fantastic. We need to harness that emotion, that energy, as much as Washington's going to try and use it as well."
The Blue Jackets can't afford another performance like Game 4, when the Capitals dominated en route to a 4-1 victory before a Nationwide Arena-record crowd of 19,385 to even the series at 2-2.

"That was such an anomaly that game because we really hadn't had such a game like that in a long time," Foligno said. "We felt disappointed in that game because we didn't give ourselves the opportunity to go up 3-1, whereas the last game in Washington we played pretty well. Odds are you play that well you're going to get the win.
"In order to win in the playoffs, you have to do well at home. That's probably why we haven't had too much success in the playoffs. We fully plan on changing that tomorrow."
Coach John Tortorella had a curt response when asked how the Blue Jackets can take advantage of the home crowd, "Play. Play the right way."
Calvert said he was inspired by watching the local news Saturday after returning from the matinee in Washington.
"They were interviewing fans who were watching, they might have been at a bar or something," he said. "We're as disappointed as they are, but they're already talking of winning Game 6 at home and winning Game 7.
"It's great to see that support. I can't wait. The atmosphere's going to be great. I know they're going to give it their all and so are we."