ESPN NHL

The Nashville Predators are on the verge of securing their sixth postseason appearance in seven seasons, but they won't be happy simply making the playoffs.

Looking to continue their pursuit of home ice in the first round, the Predators try for a 17th consecutive home victory over the injury-plagued Columbus Blue Jackets when the teams meet Friday night.

With 97 points, Nashville (43-26-11) is in a fifth-place tie with Phoenix, one point behind Los Angeles. The Predators are two ahead of both Anaheim and Chicago and four in front of ninth-place Dallas. All five teams have two games remaining.

The Predators, who can finish as high as fourth in the Western Conference, are one point away from clinching a playoff berth and conclude their season Saturday night at St. Louis.

"We've been playing playoff hockey for the last month battling for a spot," forward Jordin Tootoo told the Predators' official website. "We want to finish as high as we can in the standings and go into the playoffs with the right mindset. We have a chance to finish off the season with two big wins here."

Tootoo and left wing Sergei Kostitsyn each tallied two goals and an assist in Tuesday night's 6-3 victory over Atlanta as Nashville had a season high in goals en route to its eighth win in 10 games.

"That was still a big one for us," said center Mike Fisher, who extended his point streak to a season-high five games with a goal. "We're trying to move up and get that 4 spot if we can. That being said, we were playing a team that's out of it, so find a way to get up."

Kostitsyn has six goals and eight assists during a career-best 10-game point streak. Nashville improved to 27-7-3 when he has at least one point.

Pekka Rinne made 33 saves and has gone 7-1-1 in his last nine starts. Rinne, 9-2-1 with a 2.24 goals-against average and one shutout in his last 12 home starts, has posted a 2.37 GAA in winning three of five games against Columbus this season.

Rinne has won all seven of his career starts at home versus the Blue Jackets while recording a 2.06 GAA.

Since falling 3-1 on April 3, 2006, the Predators have outscored Columbus 54-29 en route to taking 16 straight in the series at home.

The Blue Jackets (34-33-13), meanwhile, have lost four straight and are 1-5-3 in their last nine after a 3-0 defeat at Dallas on Tuesday.

Columbus, playing without leading scorer Rick Nash (back) for the fourth consecutive contest, trailed 1-0 until allowing two empty-net goals in the final minute. Nash, who has 32 goals and 34 assists, is likely done for the season.

"It would have been easy for us to quit, but we battled to the end," said Mathieu Garon, who started in place of No. 1 goaltender Steve Mason (lower body injury) and finished with 27 saves. "It's frustrating. We're pretty banged up right now, but it's not an excuse."

Mason, whose status is uncertain, has lost 10 of 12 starts while posting a 2.98 GAA. He hasn't played since a 4-3 overtime loss at Washington on March 31.

Mason, 5-3-4 with a 2.28 GAA lifetime against Nashville, recorded his second shutout in the series with 20 saves in a 4-0 win Feb. 22.

Garon is 0-5-1 with a 3.67 GAA in six career starts at Bridgestone Arena.