Twenty-three days ago, the prospects looked bleak for the Blue Jackets. They were dead last in the NHL with a record of 6-15-2 and a measly 14 points. Having suffered through two losing streaks of nine and six games, respectively, the mood surrounding the club matched the transition from autumn to winter.
They had lost 154 man games due to injury and speculation turned to who might the team select in the draft next June. They were seemingly unable to string together a consistent effort of playing to their identity. The hole they were in was deep enough that very little light was streaming in. All of this occurred after just 23 games.
But then, a funny thing happened on the way to the number one pick.
November to turned to December and with it, the team's fortune began to change. There was more consistency of effort across the entire 23-man roster. Their opponents knew the games would be tough, physical affairs. By doing the little things the right way, they became the team that they were last spring.
There were hiccups along the way, such as the game in Sunrise, Florida on Dec. 4. The team did not have a consistent effort and was playing anything but "Blue Jackets hockey." But their rock, goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, backstopped them to a 4-3 shootout victory for back-to-back wins over the Florida Panthers. In that game, Bobrovsky posted a franchise record 52 saves.
With renewed confidence in the way they were playing, they went on to post the second longest winning streak in team history (seven games). Instead of finding ways to lose games, of which there are many, they have found ways to win. They have begun to climb out of that deep, dark hole in which they had placed themselves, albeit slowly.
It is said that winning is a panacea. While this may be true, the reasons for their success over the last nine games run deeper. Sergei Bobrovsky has played his best hockey of the season, posting a .940 save percentage (stopping all but 19 of 319 shots) and a 2.01 goals against average.
Offensively, the team is being led by left wing Nick Foligno. Through 31 games he's 16-14-30, leading the team in both goals and points. He's tied for the league lead in power play goals (8) and tied for third in the NHL in power play points (16). He's also sixth in the league after finding the back of the net sixteen times.
Over the course of their last nine games, the Blue Jackets have taken the fight past regulation seven times. This includes the last six consecutively. If they should happen to take their next game to overtime or beyond, they will tie the NHL record of seven consecutive games completed after regulation (Edmonton 2003-04, Toronto 2008-09).
Monday dawns with Columbus (31 points) in sixth place in the Metropolitan Division, seven points behind the third place New York Rangers (38) for a guaranteed playoff position. In the race for one of two wild card spots and a ticket to dance in the postseason, they trail the Washington Capitals (38) by seven points.
They are making up ground in the standings, but it is a slow process. Twenty-three days ago they trailed third place in their division by 12 points and they were 13 points out of a wild card spot.
Mind you, the belief within the room that they could turn their season around may have faltered, but it never disappeared completely. They knew what they had to do to get themselves back on even ground. The front office made it plain that no "quick fix" was coming and that the answer was within the players that were here. The question, at the time was, did they have the fortitude to do this?
They have one game to play before the league shuts down for the Christmas holiday, tonight against the visiting Nashville Predators. They can get back to .500 with a victory, which would mark 100 in Todd Richards' career with the Blue Jackets. That would be a nice Christmas present, indeed.
With 50 games still to play, the season is far from over. The hole that they occupy has much more light streaming into it now and is not quite as deep as it once was. Have no doubts, there is still much work to be done. But as the holiday draws ever closer, they have given themselves a chance.
