Blue Jackets News: Jackets Tumble in Week 18 Power Rankings

TSN.ca - down 5 to 18

The Jackets have lost five of seven, while Rick Nash has been held to just two points in that span.

CBC.ca - down 7 to 13

Have they finally hit the wall?

Yahoo.com - down 6 to 23

Adam Foote brings experience from a winning environment (Colorado) to a team that is transitioning from a perennial non-contender to a team knocking on the door of postseason for the first time. Once that transition is complete, the obvious choice is to turn the reins over to Rick Nash.

FoxSports.com - down 3 to 20

(.519) Columbus lost three straight in Week 18 and fell three places in the rankings. The Blue Jackets got outscored 12-5 in their three losses last week and only connected one time in nine tries on the power play.

CNNSI.com - down 6 spots to 25

Just when it looked like they were going to climb into the chase, they took two steps back—dropping a season-high three straight in regulation. "The three games we've lost, we deserved to lose," Dan Fritsche said. "The competitive attitude hasn't been there." That's hard to believe from a Ken Hitchcock-coached team.

CBSSports.com - down 6 to 21

Acquiring defenseman Dick Tarnstrom won't shake the world, but he does a good job on the power play and the Blue Jackets need to get better there.

ESPN.com - down 1 to 20

Pascal Leclaire is out of the lineup indefinitely with a bruised neck. As Rick Nash called the goalie the backbone of their team, how will the Blue Jackets respond?

THN.com - stay put at 19

Just when it looked like the Blue Jackets were for real, they lose three in a row.

Average Score: 17.36 (last week 15.75)

Jackets fall 2 spots in the standings this week after losing 3 straight.

CBC has us the highest at 13 while CNNSI drop us all the way down to 25. Ouch.

-LTL