Columbus Blue Jackets: the Improbable Quest for the Playoffs

Just when it appeared the Columbus Blue Jackets had been playing themselves from any playoff possibilities and into another NHL lottery countdown, the Blue Jackets reeled off an impressive 11-3-3 streak. Even so, just as soon as the Blue Jackets were back in the playoff hunt, they continued their schizophrenic ways having a disastrous 0-3-3 meltdown and now find themselves needing an improbable finish to make the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot.

If "it starts now" - referencing the T-Shirt's from former Blue Jackets' head coach Ken Hitchcock as a way of inspiring the team to its winning ways in the midst of a 3-14-7 collapse, last season?ait will need to commence tonight against the La Kings who, soon after puzzling the hockey world using their struggles, have rebounded and have become among the hottest teams within the NHL over the second half of the season. Add to that the Blue Jackets' return to a fragile psyche, most recently the result of blowing a 3-1 lead along with a 3-0 lead to the previously struggling St. Louis Blues, only to lose each games inside a shootout and in overtime, consecutively, and you have an even more insurmountable job.

When the Blue Jackets don't make an improbable run in the post-season, it will not be for the lack of faith and dogged resolution of their rookie head coach, Scott Arniel. "As almost as much ast everyone looks at the gloom and doom we're just looking to get that 1st win here tonight and let things happen from there," stated Arniel, "We can't obsess with the past. As much as men and women speculate or wish to feel we are completed, that we are not going to produce it, we still have 16 games to play."

If he states it's over, he's basically raised the white flag and that would have a devastating impact on both the team and in the gate, his or her fans would opt to forego attending the games for the a lot more pleasant weather that need to arrive. And for a team who's already knowledgeable a 25% drop in full-season equivalents (FSEs), such negative statements might be fiscally disastrous. If you look at the Los Angeles Kings, who presently occupy the 8th position within the Western Conference standings, and project their total points (79) during the period of an 82-game schedule, it projects to 97 points. Nonetheless, even if you project the Calgary Flames current point totals (81) more than an 82-game season, it might project to 95 points.

This, nevertheless, is using a straight-line projection of accumulating points/games played within the remaining 12-15 games of the season. And when you appear in the teams who occupy the fourth-eighth positions in the Western Conference standings, most have accomplished so through phenomenal second half surges, specifically during their final 20 games. Whilst wins and losses do even out, teams with all the talent level of these front-runners are merely hitting their stride.