(My Sportsbook) - A crucial battle in the Western Conference playoff race is on tap tonight in the Buckeye State, as the Columbus Blue Jackets host the Nashville Predators at Nationwide Arena.

The Blue Jackets are currently sixth in the West standings with 86 points, but are just two points ahead of seventh-seeded Nashville. St. Louis, which swept Columbus this weekend in a home-and-home series, is holding onto the conference's eighth and final postseason berth with 83 points.

Columbus has never qualified for the postseason since entering the NHL as an expansion club in 2000-01 and losing back-to-back games to the Blues didn't help the franchise's quest for a playoff seed.

The Blue Jackets were dealt a 4-3 shootout loss Saturday in St. Louis and then dropped a 5-2 decision Sunday on their home ice. Patrik Berglund scored a goal and dished out two assists to lift St. Louis to the easy victory at Nationwide Arena.

Fedor Tyutin and Rick Nash scored for the Blue Jackets, while rookie sensation Steve Mason turned aside 22 shots to drop to 31-18-5 on the year.

Columbus hasn't lost three straight games since January 31-February 6.

After tonight, the Blue Jackets won't play again until visiting these same Predators on Saturday night. This is not a home-and-home series, however, as Nashville has a game in Chicago on Friday night.

Columbus has a solid 24-12-2 record as the host team this season.

The Predators come into tonight riding a three-game winning streak and the club has recorded at least a point in their last eight games (5-0-3).

Nashville earned its most recent win in a close game at Detroit this past Sunday. Ryan Suter's power-play goal late in regulation sent the Predators to the 4-3 decision over the Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena.

Steve Sullivan had a goal and a helper for the Predators. Joel Ward and Jerred Smithson also tallied while Pekka Rinne stopped 33 shots for the win.

Nashville will be without Martin Erat for at least the remainder of the regular season as the winger suffered a broken leg against Detroit. Erat is second on the team with 50 points on the year.

In other injury news, David Legwand, who has missed the last three games, will be sidelined for another two weeks with a fractured cheekbone. Fellow centerman Jason Arnott (concussion) has missed the last nine games with a concussion and is questionable for tonight's test.

Sunday's win over the Red Wings began a three-game road trip for the Predators, who are just 15-18-4 as the guest this season.

Columbus and Nashville have split four meetings so far this season, but the Predators have won 17 of the last 20 encounters between the clubs. The Preds have dropped two in a row and three of their last four in Ohio.