The set-up: The Carolina Hurricanes' last playoff appearance came back in the 2008-09 season but a 12-game point streak (8-0-4) has them at 34-27-14 (82 points), within four points of Boston for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference. The Hurricanes will host the 49-19-7 Columbus Blue Jackets tonight and Columbus also enters on an impressive 12-game streak, having earned points in 10 of 12 games, going 9-2-1.

Columbus: The Blue Jackets (105 points) sit in second-place in the top-heavy Metropolitan Division, five points back of the Capitols and two points ahead of the Penguins. Columbus has already secured a playoff spot but head coach John Tortorella is worried his team's inconsistent offense, which has scored just seven goals during the last four games (2-1-1). Columbus has used goalie Sergei Bobrovsky in the last two matchups with Carolina, with each team winning once. Bobrovsky holds an NHL-leading 41 victories this season and owns a personal 12-game points streak (10-0-2). His save percentage is a stunning .959 in his last 16 games!

Carolina: The Hurricanes have just seven games remaining and to reach an Eastern Conference playoff spot, they must pass three more teams and make up four points. Carolina is four points back of the Boston Bruins for the second wild card but has a game in hand. Carolina's goalie situation seems clear. Eddie Lack is recovering from Monday night's brief hospitalization for what was determined to be a neck strain. He was back to watch Tuesday night's game but is likely out of action for at least another few days. Cam Ward will start, looking to improve his 25-20-11 record, 2.69 GGA and .905 save percentage.

The pick: Picking against Columbus is tough, as the Blue Jackets are 9-0-1 in their last 10 games against Metropolitan Division opponents. Bobrovsky will be in net and remember that .959 save percentage in his last 16. However, also remember that Columbus has scored only seven goals in its last four games. The under is a 10* play.