(Sports Network) - The Columbus Blue Jackets will try to put the brakes on their longest losing streak of the season when they welcome the first-place Calgary Flames for tonight's clash at Nationwide Arena.
The Blue Jackets have lost four in a row on the heels of a three-game winning streak and Ken Hitchcock's club is just 7-8-3 since beginning the season with a 5-1-0 record.
Columbus hasn't gained a point since losing in a shootout last Saturday at Nashville. The club has been dealt three consecutive regulation setbacks since then, but did play Ottawa close in a road loss on Thursday night. Nick Foligno scored the go-ahead goal with 6:10 to play to lift the Senators to the 2-1 victory at Scotiabank Place.
Kristian Huselius had the lone goal for Columbus, while Steve Mason made 34 saves in the setback.
"To be honest with you, the story of our year a little bit, as far as looking pretty good after two, then giving up goals in the third," Blue Jackets defenseman Mike Commodore said. "That's kind of what's been going on."
Columbus has been outscored by an 8-2 margin in the third period over its last eight games and has managed just three wins over that span.
The Blue Jackets are 6-2-2 as the host this year and will close out November on a two-game homestand. Columbus, which will also welcome St. Louis on Monday, has won two straight and three of its last four on home ice.
The Flames won for the third time in four games on Friday night, as they blanked the Detroit Red Wings, 3-0, at Joe Louis Arena. Miikka Kiprusoff's 40 saves led to his second shutout of the season and 32nd of his career.
Jamie Lundmark, Nigel Dawes and Olli Jokinen scored for the Flames, who moved one point ahead of Colorado for the top spot in the Northwest Division with the win.
Tonight marks the second stop on Calgary's six-game road trip, the club's longest trek of the season. The Flames are 8-1-3 as the guest this year and have won three of their last four away from Calgary.
The Flames and Blue Jackets are meeting tonight for the third of four scheduled meetings this year. The clubs split the first two encounters with each team winning on home ice. Calgary has lost four straight and seven of its last eight in Columbus.