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While the Blue Jackets and Red Wings are battling for draft position and lottery odds instead of a playoff spot -- with last night's win, Detroit moved one point ahead of Columbus at the bottom of the Central Division -- CBJ head coach John Tortorella has too much respect for the game to put that battle ahead of the one the teams will have on the ice to finish the season tonight.  In other words, there will be no tanking from the Jackets as they lace 'em up for the final time against the Wings.  "Oh God, I don't know how to spell (tank) and I don't think our athletes know how to spell it," ...

It all ends this weekend.  The 56-game season comes to a close with a back-to-back, as Columbus and Detroit will play tonight and Saturday to finish things off. While the Blue Jackets have started to play better hockey, as the shock of the trade deadline has worn off and the depleted roster has meshed some during a five-game point streak, the team is still ready to put this season behind it.  Sure, the front office brass has taken the chance to see some new faces in new situations down the stretch, and Columbus has played with pride in recent games against a pretty strong set of opponents. ...

What has to happen for the Blue Jackets to catch a break?  The shorthanded Jackets have lost nine in a row (0-7-2), tied for the longest win streak in franchise history, and the last two setbacks in Tampa Bay were marked by stretches of good play -- and bad breaks on two big goals.  In Thursday's series opener, goalie Elvis Merzlikins was hit in the helmet by a high stick moments before the Lightning scored the game-winning goal, leading to a protest from the CBJ netminder but a goal that stood because it couldn't be challenged.  Then in Sunday's finale, another bad break allowed the Light...

Elvis Merzlikins' comments after the Blue Jackets' loss to Tampa Bay on Thursday night underscored just how tough it is for the team right now as it plays out the 2021 season.  Columbus is 0-7-1 in its last eight games, one short of tying a franchise record for the longest winless streak, a mark that has been set three times, last in October/November 2014.   "I am tired of losing the game," Merzlikins said among other heartfelt comments. "I know we are trying, but this is getting embarrassing. It is what it is. I am trying to be honest with you guys. It's painful." 

For the Blue Jackets, the reality is this isn't all that fun at the moment.  In the NHL, the most fun a player can have is when a team is winning games, lots of them, and that's the opposite of how things are going for the Blue Jackets. Columbus has won just two of its last 15 games, including an 0-5-1 mark in the last six, and the team is now tied with Detroit for last place in the Central Division.  Obviously, the Blue Jackets have been gutted by trades (Nick Foligno, David Savard, Riley Nash) and injuries (Zach Werenski, Boone Jenner, Gustav Nyquist, Emil Bemstrom) in recent weeks, which...