Blue Jackets’ fleeting playoff hopes slipping away

By Bud L. Ellis

It has been a long season for the Columbus Blue Jackets, and any last-ditch hopes at a berth in the Stanley Cup playoffs have just about been buried.

The Blue Jackets sit eight points behind a three-way tie for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. But being in 12th place in the Western Conference means the Blue Jackets would have to leap past four teams to get into the top eight.

With only nine games remaining, and the way Columbus has played this season, that seems unlikely.

The Blue Jackets are 33-29-11 on the season. In their past 10 games, the Blue Jackets have won just twice, losing four games in overtime. Those four points that have slipped away probably are the reason Columbus’ postseasons dreams are slipping away.

After a Thursday game at Phoenix, Columbus returns home for four of its next five.

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Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at 8:03 pm by bud

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