LOS ANGELES -- The longest trip of the Blue Jackets' season begins tonight in Los Angeles, a 12-day, six-game cross-country trek that will end Jan. 9 in Washington. How it plays out could have a dramatic effect on the rest of the season.

If the Blue Jackets play well -- or at least play well enough to stay in the playoff conversation in the Western Conference -- it could prompt general manager Scott Howson to actively pursue the club's two glaring needs: a center to replace Derick Brassard and a right-handed shooting defenseman who can produce on power plays.

"We're all interested to see how the team is going to respond," Howson said. "You can't get in the playoffs with a good trip, but you can put yourself at a big disadvantage if this trip doesn't go well."

Howson wouldn't say it in so many words, but he wants the Blue Jackets to reveal themselves under the difficult circumstances of this trip.

Are they the Blue Jackets who looked lost and lazy in a 3-0 loss to Los Angeles on Dec. 23? Or the club that looked powerful and proud in a 3-0 win over Philadelphia on Saturday?

Howson has confirmed trade talks with several NHL clubs, and it's known that Toronto and the New York Islanders are two clubs actively pursuing trades.

It's possible that Howson could act soon if the right deal presents itself. But it's more likely he'll let this trip play out before he seeks approval from ownership to add payroll via a trade.

Blue Jackets players and coaches, meanwhile, are hunkered down, trying to bottle the performance they put forth on Saturday.

"The significance of the trip, to me, is that we're playing almost every game against a team that's right around us in the standings," coach Ken Hitchcock said. "It's Los Angeles, Anaheim, St. Louis, Colorado … they're right there with us, and this is the time to make a move.

"We have a presentable home record. We have to step up and have a better road record. There aren't many playoff teams who can play 10 or 12 games under .500 on the road."

The Blue Jackets are 0-6-1 in their past seven road games. The last win away from Nationwide Arena was Nov. 22 in Atlanta.

Shaky Jake

Right winger Jake Voracek is questionable for tonight's game after taking a massive hit from Philadelphia's Darroll Powe in the first period Saturday.

The Blue Jackets described it as an upper body injury.

If Voracek can't go, forward Craig MacDonald -- called up from Syracuse on Friday -- will make his Blue Jackets debut.

They loathe L.A.

The Blue Jackets feel as if their two worst games of the season have both come against Los Angeles, one in the Staples Center early this month and the other last week in Nationwide Arena.

The Jackets are 0-2 vs. the young, up-and-coming Kings, losing twice by 3-0 scores.

"They've got guys who have matured and gotten better," center Michael Peca said. "They play a very solid, disciplined, hard-working team game. "They've taken it to us, right from the get-go and throughout the entire game.

"I don't think that will happen again, but if it does, it's really shameful."

Slap shots

Hitchcock was considering putting defenseman Marc Methot back in the lineup tonight. He was a healthy scratch vs. Philadelphia in favor of Christian Backman. … Nikita Filatov had two goals yesterday in Russia's 5-2 win over Finland in the World Junior Championship in Ottawa. Filatov, the Jackets' No. 1 pick last summer, is serving as Russia's captain. … The Blue Jackets are 2-10-1 vs. the Pacific Division. … The Blue Jackets flew to Los Angeles yesterday morning. They had off-ice workouts.

aportzline@dispatch.com