After occupying the top wildcard berth in the Eastern Conference early in March, the Blue Jackets have lost six games in a row.

After enduring its eighth loss in the past nine games, Columbus is running out of time and might not be in control of its playoff destiny.

Blue Jackets drop their seventh of eight games since downing the Red Wings on March 1 at Ohio Stadium, losing to Penguins for sixth straight defeat.

The Pittsburgh Penguins (29-32-10) are not going into the night quietly. They are picking up wins against opponents who dominated them most of the season, earning their first victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday night by a 6-3 score.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are getting hot at the worst possible time, while the Columbus Blue Jackets are simultaneously faltering. The Blue Jackets would happily

Boone Jenner scored his first goal in 13 games this season, and Elvis Merzlikins made 28 saves for the Blue Jackets (31-29-9), who have lost six straight (0-5-1), including 1-0 in overtime to the Florida Panthers on Thursday. They are three points behind the Canadiens.