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GAME: Columbus Blue Jackets (8-16-4-3) at Minnesota Wild (13-14-6-0).

TIME: Saturday, 8 p.m. EST.

Unbeaten in their last four games, the surging Minnesota Wild look to continue their best stretch of the season as they meet the hapless Columbus Blue Jackets at the Xcel Energy Center.

Minnesota appeared to be on its way to a fourth straight win before Edmonton's Brad Isbister scored with just 1.9 seconds left in regulation Thursday night, leaving the Wild with a 1-1 tie and a 3-0-1 mark since Dec. 11.

Minnesota, which is 5-2-2 in December, has used the stretch to climb within one win of .500.

However, Wild goalie Manny Fernandez was less than pleased that he lost a chance for his second shutout of the Oilers this season.

"It was a mistake," Fernandez said of the tying tally. "I assumed (Isbister) was going to shoot it right away. I went down on one knee and he kind of fumbled the puck. I got kind of surprised. Stuff like that happens."

Wild coach Jacques Lemaire was also upset about letting the extra point slip away.

"It was the end of the shift," he said. "We started to be a little tired and couldn't pressure the puck carrier. We had a chance to get the puck out. We didn't. Then we had it again and we lost it. You can't give them too many chances."

The Blue Jackets had a franchise-record 13 power plays Friday night, but failed to score on any of them. To make matters worse, they allowed a short-handed tally to Calgary's Matthew Lombardi in a 2-1 loss to the surging Flames.

"I've never seen a power play that looked that bad in a long time," Columbus coach and general manager Doug MacLean said. "We had umpteen opportunities. The power play was pathetic. There's no excuse for it."

Rick Nash scored his NHL-leading 20th goal for the Blue Jackets, who have lost their last four games, and are winless in seven (0-4-1-2).

The Blue Jackets are 0-10-1-2 on the road.




SCHEDULE

HOME
AWAY
PROMOTIONAL

STANDINGS

WESTERN CONFERENCE
  TEAM GP W L OT GF GA PTS
1 p - CHI 48 36 7 5 155 102 77
2 y - ANA 48 30 12 6 140 118 66
3 y - VAN 48 26 15 7 127 121 59
4 x - STL 48 29 17 2 129 115 60
5 x - LAK 48 27 16 5 133 118 59
6 x - SJS 48 25 16 7 124 116 57
7 x - DET 48 24 16 8 124 115 56
8 x - MIN 48 26 19 3 122 127 55
9 CBJ 48 24 17 7 120 119 55
10 PHX 48 21 18 9 125 131 51
11 DAL 48 22 22 4 130 142 48
12 EDM 48 19 22 7 125 134 45
13 CGY 48 19 25 4 128 160 42
14 NSH 48 16 23 9 111 139 41
15 COL 48 16 25 7 116 152 39

STATS

2012-2013 REGULAR SEASON
SKATERS: GP G A +/- Pts
V. Prospal 48 12 18 3 30
M. Letestu 46 13 14 7 27
M. Gaborik 47 12 15 -3 27
F. Tyutin 48 4 18 9 22
B. Dubinsky 29 2 18 2 20
N. Foligno 45 6 13 6 19
J. Johnson 44 5 14 -5 19
A. Anisimov 35 11 7 -6 18
C. Atkinson 35 9 9 9 18
R. Umberger 48 8 10 3 18
 
GOALIES: W L OT Sv% GAA
S. Bobrovsky 21 11 6 .932 2.00
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