In August, we wrote a theoretical piece about how the Columbus Blue Jackets would need to fare in the standings to make the playoffs in back-to-back seasons.
Our road map suggested the Blue Jackets be at 59 points through 49 games. After hitting their first two "checkpoints" (to varying degrees), the club missed it on this one, meaning they are officially off the 95-point pace that has typically allowed NHL teams to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Though their 57 points are nothing to scoff at, the gap between Metro foes has certainly tightened in recent weeks and the division is as tight as any division in hockey.
As we head into the break, the Blue Jackets sit in second place in their division, though only five points separate them from last place Carolina (52). It's a far cry from where they checked in at Thanksgiving, where the team was tied for third in the NHL in points, trailing only the Tampa Bay Lightning and St. Louis Blues.
January was, to be frank, less than ideal. The Jackets managed to stay afloat with a 5-4-0 month (they still have one more game in January), despite the relatively easy competition they faced.
With 49 games down and 33 to go, the Blue Jackets find themselves in the thick of the Metropolitan Division race, but by no means are they a lock for the playoffs. Per sportsclubstats, the club has a 61.9% chance of making the playoffs, but that gives them just the fourth highest odds among Metro teams.
Injuries have certainly played a factor in their recent struggles. Brandon Dubinsky and Ryan Murray missed the entire month, and Sonny Milano was injured in the fourth game of the month. Cam Atkinson was activated for the most recent game, and was the hero, but it was his first game played since December.
But the truth is, at this point in the season, most teams are dealing with injuries to key players. And while all of the above are significant players, none of them are named Seth Jones, Artemi Panarin, or Sergei Bobrovsky.
The Blue Jackets (minus Jones) have the weekend to recuperate and re-charge the batteries for the final time this season. While January was a slow climb up the mountain, February (and March) will be full-on sprints.
The opportunity for the club to make the playoffs for the second-consecutive season for the first time in franchise history is still absolutely in the cards. But there's no question that this team will need to be sharper in February than it was in January.
Despite all of the perceived gloom and doom, this is still a team that finds themselves in the thick of the playoff hunt.
Next checkpoint: the NHL trade deadline.
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