GAME: Columbus Blue Jackets (19-34-8-4) at Carolina Hurricanes (20-27-13-4).

TIME: Tuesday, 7 p.m. EST.

If the Columbus Blue Jackets want to match their longest winning streak of the season, they will have to beat the Carolina Hurricanes at the RBC Center for the first time.

Columbus snapped a five-game losing streak with a 4-3 road win over Chicago on Friday, and then defeated Colorado 5-4 in overtime on Saturday to win consecutive games for the first time since Nov. 20-22.

The Blue Jackets won a season-high three in a row from Oct. 11-16.

On Saturday, David Vyborny had a goal and four assists, including one on Jaroslav Spacek's goal 3:24 into overtime, as the Blue Jackets beat the Avalanche for the first time in 15 meetings.

Vyborny's five points were a career high, and his four assists tied a franchise record. He also set a career high for points in a season with 47, and was named NHL player of the week on Monday.

"I think it's our best win ever," Vyborny said. "It will give me a little bit more confidence over the last 17 games."

Columbus will be looking end its problems at the RBC Center, where it is has lost all three meetings with Carolina. The Blue Jackets beat the Hurricanes on Dec. 29, 2000, but have since dropped four straight in the series.

Carolina is coming into this contest riding a seven-game point streak after skating to a 3-3 road tie with Minnesota on Sunday. The Hurricanes are 3-0-2-2 during that span.

The Wild scored twice in 31 seconds in the third period to take a 3-2 lead, but Carolina's Ron Francis poked home a loose puck with 4:15 to play to force overtime.

The Hurricanes are clinging to slim playoff hopes as they trail the eighth-place New York Islanders by 15 points in the Eastern Conference.

"We could have slid down and given up," Carolina goaltender Arturs Irbe said. "We still have a chance. Quitters don't belong in this league."

The Hurricanes and Blue Jackets conclude their season series next Monday in Columbus.

STANDINGS (through Feb. 29): Blue Jackets - 50 points, 4th place, 35 PB, Central Division. Hurricanes - 57 points, 4th place, 25 PB, Southeast Division.

TEAM LEADERS: Blue Jackets - Rick Nash, 33 goals; Vyborny, 28 assists; Nash and Vyborny, 47 points; Jody Shelley, 175 PIM. Hurricanes - Josef Vasicek, 16 goals; Justin Williams, 24 assists; Vasicek and Williams, 34 points; Jesse Boulerice, 102 PIM.

SPECIAL TEAMS (through Feb. 29): Blue Jackets - Power play: 14.6 percent (48 for 329), 23rd in NHL. Penalty killing: 83.0 percent (219 for 264), 21st. Hurricanes - Power play: 11.7 percent (35 for 299), 30th. Penalty killing: 82.0 percent (233 for 284), 24th.

GOALTENDERS: Blue Jackets - Marc Denis (16-27-7, 3 SO, 2.56 GAA); Fred Brathwaite (3-9-1, 3.38). Hurricanes - Kevin Weekes (19-23-10, 6, 2.22); Irbe (1-0-1, 1.92).

2002-03 SEASON SERIES: Hurricanes, 2-0.

LAST MEETING: March 10; Hurricanes, 6-5. At Raleigh, N.C., Brad DeFauw scored twice in his NHL debut, including the game-winner with 2:37 left, as the Hurricanes held on after scoring four goals in the opening 17{ minutes.

ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Blue Jackets - 4-21-4-2 on the road; Hurricanes - 11-12-8-2 at home.

— Associated Press