Run of games in Metro lies ahead

On Friday night, the Blue Jackets played host to an opponent they do not know very well.

Come Saturday, they will get to know their opponents extremely well.

Friday marked the last of a recent run of Western Conference foes as the San Jose Sharks came to town for the only time this season. Next is a game at the New York Islanders with 10 of the next 12 contests coming within the Metropolitan Division.

Although every game is important in the final two-plus months of the regular season, these games in an increasingly tight Metro are of extreme importance. Coming into Friday, 10 points separated the last-place Islanders from the first-place Capitals — and New York was just a point out of the playoffs.

“Obviously these are huge because you have to win those games to get out of your division,” Nick Foligno said before facing the Sharks. “Those teams want the wins as much as we do. They will be emotional games, I’m sure, and we shouldn’t have any problem getting up for them. It should benefit us. It will test where we’re at.”

Although Foligno said he’s doesn’t expect another huge winning streak like the 16-game run the Jackets pulled off last season, a nice run would be perfect.

The Jackets will face five of the other seven teams in the conference this month, including three against Washington and will see the Islanders, Devils and Flyers twice each. The Blue Jackets are done with Carolina and see the Rangers one more time next month.

And, yes, they know where they are in the standings.

“You don’t want to be ignorant to the situation you’re in,” Foligno said. “We know what’s ahead and how it needs to play out. The only way to control things is by winning. We have a great opportunity in front of us.”

Apple for Torts

Not only did coach John Tortorella make his team watch Tuesday’s 3-2 shootout loss to the Minnesota Wild in its entirety, but players were tasked with charting scoring chances for both teams.

Tortorella said he wasn’t listening in to his team as they went through the game, but he enjoyed hearing them discuss things as they broke it all down.

The marathon film session came after a long on-ice session.

“I want them to have a discussion on plays — good plays, too,” Tortorella said. “I appreciated it. I know how long it takes. At the end, they probably had it on fast forward a little bit because I expected it to take a little longer.

“But I was a little like a school teacher, waiting on their reports. I could tell they did the work and I heard the discussions. I think it’s really healthy for a team.”