It could be called the Blue Jackets' Central problem. In 11 NHL seasons, the Jackets have never had a winning record within the Central Division, and it's never been uglier than this season.
Sunday's 2-1 loss to St. Louis dropped the Blue Jackets to 3-15-2 vs. their division mates -- Chicago, Detroit, Nashville and St. Louis. It's the worst record by any NHL club within its own division.
Like the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference, the Central Division would have four clubs reach the Stanley Cup playoffs if the NHL's regular season ended today.
After Sunday's loss, the Blue Jackets trail fourth-place Chicago by 31 points in the Central Division.
Not that it's anything new: The Blue Jackets are 89-139-44 all-time in their own division. In 2008-09, the only season Columbus has made the playoffs, the Blue Jackets went 10-10-8 in their division.
Four of the Blue Jackets' final 13 games this season will be played in the division, including two against Detroit. Columbus next faces the Oilers in Edmonton on Wednesday.
NOTES, QUOTES
Columbus suffers 40th regulation loss
--Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Blues was the Blue Jackets' 40th regulation loss of the season, the first time they've hit that number since the 2006-07 season. That was the final season with president and general manager Doug MacLean at the helm. Scott Howson, now the GM, took over for MacLean shortly after that season ended.
--Not that it's a surprise. It's been a foregone conclusion almost since the Blue Jackets started 0-7-1 and 2-12-1 back in October. But if Colorado wins on Monday, the Blue Jackets will be eliminated from the playoffs for the 10th time in 11 seasons, and the third straight season overall.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I think they do a good job of making you play quicker than you want to play. It was a challenge for us." -- Blue Jackets winger Mark Letestu, referring to the weekend sweep at the hands of the St. Louis Blues.
ROSTER REPORT
PLAYER NOTES:
--C Mark Letestu came to the Blue Jackets as a third- or fourth-line grinder, regarded more for his upbeat attitude than upside offensive potential. In 85 games with Pittsburgh, he had 15 goals and 14 assists before the Blue Jackets claimed him on waivers. Since the claim, Letestu has eight goals and nine assists in only 38 games. He missed more than a month with a broken right hand.
--RW Jared Boll returned to the lineup for the first time since breaking his foot in Dallas on Feb. 9. Boll played only 7:15 in his first game back, but had an impact. He led the Blue Jackets with five hits and had a second-period fight with Blues forward Chris Stewart.
--C Ryan Johansen had a second-period assist on Mark Letestu's goal, his first point since early January. Johansen continues to be the odd man out by Columbus, which drafted him No. 4 overall in the 2010 NHL entry draft. Despite nearing the end of the season, he had only 6:55 of ice time on the fourth line.
