(My Sportsbook) - The Columbus Blue Jackets will try to build off a dominating offensive performance as they continue their push for the postseason by hosting the struggling Boston Bruins in tonight's test at Nationwide Arena.

The Blue Jackets, who have never made the playoffs, recorded an 8-2 victory in Detroit on Saturday to win for the second time in three games. Columbus enters tonight as the sixth seed in the Western Conference, but the club is just two points ahead of Edmonton, Nashville and Dallas, which are tied for the West's final two postseason berths.

Rick Nash notched his second hat trick of the season to lift the Blue Jackets to the easy victory over Detroit at Joe Louis Arena. Both of Nash's hat tricks this season have come against the defending Stanley Cup champion Red Wings.

All three of Nash's goals came unassisted, marking the first time a player has scored three times in a game without an assist since the legendary Maurice "Rocket" Richard pulled off the feat for Montreal on March 14, 1948.

R.J. Umberger had two goals and an assist while Jason Williams added a goal and an assist for the Blue Jackets, who set a new franchise record for goals in a game.

Steve Mason made 44 saves in the win as the 20-year-old rookie improved to 26-16-3 on the season.

Columbus is 20-10-2 as the host this year and has won two of three and five of its last seven home tests. The Jackets will also host Pittsburgh on Thursday to close out a two-game homestand.

The Eastern Conference-leading Bruins, meanwhile, have lost four of five, six of nine and 10 of their last 14 games. Boston is still leading the NHL with 95 points, but has seen its lead in the East fall to eight points over New Jersey.

Boston was in action on Sunday and was handed a road loss in a close game against the New York Rangers. Nikolai Zherdev got the game-winner with 6:22 left in the third period to lift the Rangers to the 4-3 decision at Madison Square Garden.

Chuck Kobasew, Michael Ryder and Zdeno Chara tallied for the Bruins. Manny Fernandez looked shaky at times, allowing four goals on 30 shots in defeat.

Patrice Bergeron added an assist in the loss and has one goal and five helpers during a five-game point streak.

The Bruins have lost three straight and five of their last six road games, but are still 21-9-4 as the visiting club this year.

Boston has taken four of the last five meetings with the Blue Jackets and the clubs have split four all-time encounters in Columbus.