(Sports Network) - The Columbus Blue Jackets will try to rebound after an embarrassing loss when they welcome the Anaheim Ducks for tonight's battle at Nationwide Arena.

The Blue Jackets had won two straight and three out of four games before being destroyed by visiting Detroit on Wednesday by a 9-1 score. It was the first matchup between the two Central Division clubs since Columbus' first-ever playoff appearance came to a swift end via last season's four-game sweep by the Red Wings.

Columbus had earned a point in five straight contests (3-0-2) prior to Wednesday's lopsided loss. Nicklas Kronwall and Justin Abdelkader each scored twice and the Red Wings got goals from seven different players in the rout at Nationwide Arena. It was the most goals the Wings have scored against Columbus since the Blue Jackets joined the league in 2000.

Steve Mason continued his early-season struggles -- beaten three times on six shots over the opening 7 1/2 minutes. After Mathieu Garon came on to make 11 saves to finish out the first, Mason was back in net to start the second. The reigning Calder Trophy winner ended up allowing eight goals on 27 shots in defeat.

Rick Nash's 12th goal of the season represented the lone bright spot, spoiling the 1,000th NHL game behind the bench for Columbus coach Ken Hitchcock, who nonetheless became the 16th coach in league history to reach the mark.

"We really got schooled today. We got schooled by a hungry team that got beat 5-1 the last game and they were ready to play and we weren't. It doesn't surprise me. We'll learn the lesson, go back and have a chat," said Hitchcock.

Columbus defenseman Kris Russell is questionable for tonight's test after missing the last two games with an illness. Meanwhile, forward Raffi Torres suffered a facial laceration after getting hit in the mouth with the puck against Detroit and will miss tonight's game.

Tonight marks the third segment of a four-game homestand for the Blue Jackets, who will cap the residency Monday against Edmonton. Columbus is 4-2-2 as the host this year.

The Ducks, meanwhile, had a two-game winning streak halted their last time out when they dropped Wednesday's road test in New Jersey. Martin Brodeur made 31 stops as the Devils posted a 3-1 win at Prudential Center.

Corey Perry provided the lone offense for the Ducks, while Jonas Hiller stopped 22 shots in defeat. The loss came in the first stop of a four-game road trip for Anaheim, which is 2-2-2 away from Orange County this year.

Ducks goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere returned and sat on the bench in a back-up role to Hiller after missing several games with a groin injury. Ducks head coach Randy Carlyle said Giguere will get a chance to play at some point during the team's four-game road trip, but did not reveal when.

Anaheim center Saku Koivu has missed the last two games with a lower-body injury and is questionable for tonight's test. The longtime Montreal Canadien signed with the Ducks in the offseason and has two goals and six assists in 15 games this year.

"Hopefully, he'll be able to give it a try (Friday) morning and see where he's at," Carlyle told Anaheim's Web site about Koivu's status. "Any injury has to be treated with caution, and thats what we'll do."

The Ducks lost a 6-4 home decision to Columbus on October 24, but have still taken six of eight overall in the series. Anaheim has also won three in a row and six of its last seven contests at Nationwide Arena.