(My Sportsbook) - A pair of teams trying desperately to make the postseason will meet tonight in Sunrise, as the Florida Panthers host the Columbus Blue Jackets in an interconference matchup at BankAtlantic Center.

The Panthers last qualified for the playoffs in 2000, while Columbus has never made the postseason since entering the league for the 2000-01 campaign. The Blue Jackets would make the playoffs as the sixth seed in the Western Conference if the season ended today, while Florida, the East's ninth seed, would finish one point out of a postseason berth.

With wins in five of their last six games, the Blue Jackets have certainly helped their playoff cause recently. Columbus had a four-game winning streak halted with Sunday's 4-0 loss to visiting Detroit, but rebounded with Wednesday's home victory over Chicago.

Antoine Vermette scored with 2:22 left in overtime to lift the Blue Jackets to a 4-3 decision over the struggling Blackhawks. Vermette, who came over from Ottawa at the trade deadline, has four goals and three assists in his first six games with Columbus.

R.J. Umberger, Derek Dorsett and Rick Nash scored in regulation for Columbus, while Steve Mason made 24 saves to earn the victory.

Columbus is playing the first of two straight in the Sunshine State as it will also visit Tampa for Tuesday's game against the Lightning. The Blue Jackets are just 14-17-4 as the guest this year, but have won their last two road contests.

The Panthers ended a poorly-timed four-game losing streak their last time out, posting a home win over Toronto on Thursday. Stephen Weiss had a goal and an assist to help Florida notch the 3-1 win over the Maple Leafs.

Ville Peltonen and Richard Zednik each had a goal while Tomas Vokoun made 37 saves in the win for the Panthers.

Florida is 1-1-1 on a five-game homestand that will end Monday in a key matchup with rival Carolina. The Panthers are 19-10-6 as the host this year, but have lost three of their last five home tests.

The Panthers have taken two of three and three of the last five meetings with Columbus. The clubs have split the last four meetings in Sunrise, but they haven't met in south Florida since the Jackets earned a 5-4 overtime win on January 14, 2006.