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Torts downplays significance of tonight’s Jackets-Penguins game

Columbus Blue Jackets v Florida Panthers

SUNRISE, FL - NOVEMBER 26: Head coach John Tortorella of the Columbus Blue Jackets watches a replay during a break in action against the Florida Panthers at the BB&T Center on November 26, 2016 in Sunrise, Florida. The Panthers defeated the Blue Jackets 2-1 in a shoot out. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)

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Quite the matchup tonight in Columbus, where the NHL’s hottest team will host the Stanley Cup champs in a much-anticipated Metropolitan Division clash.

The Blue Jackets enter having won 10 straight, their last two in overtime and a shootout, respectively.

The Penguins, meanwhile, will again be missing two of their best defenseman, Kris Letang and Trevor Daley. But that wasn’t a problem Tuesday, when they smoked the Rangers, 7-2. Pittsburgh has gone 10 straight without losing in regulation (8-0-2).

“It’s two good teams going after it,” said Pittsburgh forward Patric Hornqvist, per Pens Inside Scoop. “They won 10 in a row and we’ve been really good here lately too.”

Read more: The young Blue Jackets, with a ‘new culture,’ are the NHL’s biggest surprise

The Blue Jackets have their own injury concerns with leading scorer Cam Atkinson spending yesterday in a walking boot after blocking a shot Tuesday against the Kings. Atkinson still may play tonight, but if he does, it remains to be seen if he’ll be limited in any way.

True to form, John Tortorella downplayed the significance of tonight’s matchup with the Pens.

“It’s another game that’s on the schedule and we are approaching it as we have all year long,” the head coach said, per the Columbus Dispatch.

But you can bet Jackets and Penguins fans won’t see it the same way. This is a game that both sides will be watching closely. It should be a fun one.