Week 23 Power Rankings - Jackets soar

TSN.ca
Rank: 12 (unchanged)
Four wins in five games gives the Jackets a slight cushion in their quest for a playoff position and they're doing it despite owning the league's worst power play.

CBSSports.com
Rank: 11 (+5)
Columbus had a big week and created a little space in its playoff race but had wakeup calls in games against Pittsburgh and Detroit.

ESPN.com
Rank: 10 (+3)
After upending the Red Wings on March 7, the Blue Jackets were shut out by Detroit 4-0 on Sunday. But Columbus beat Boston, Pittsburgh and Chicago in that stretch, and Sunday's shutout was the first against the team since Jan. 6.

FoxSports.com
Rank: 14 (unchanged)
(.557) Columbus picked up three wins in four games last week. If the club continues to play this well down the stretch it will qualify for the postseason for the first time in franchise history.

THN.com
Rank: 7 (+6)
Antoine Vermette has three goals and six points in five games with Columbus

CNNSI.com
Rank: 9 (+4)
Imagine looking at the schedule at the beginning of the season and seeing the Jackets had a March stretch that included games against the Bruins, Penguins, Hawks and Wings. Now imagine trying to argue that they would take eight points out of that death march. This team just keeps finding ways to exceed expectations.

Sportsnet.ca
Rank: 14 (+2)
Antoine Vermette has three goals and six points in five games since joining the Blue Jackets from Ottawa at the trade deadline.

ColumbusDispatch.com
Rank: 10 (+4)
What a week. Wins over Detroit, Boston, Pittsburgh and Chicago has to make it the best week in franchise history.

Yahoo.com
Rank: 12 (+1)
Antoine Vermette has been a nice addition. The versatile forward has scored three goals and six points while logging a whopping 19:32 of ice time in his five games since arriving from Ottawa.

META-SCORE: 9.9 (last week 13.8)

"Death march"... pretty good line by Muir on CNNSI.com.

Vermette is certainly grabbing the attention of the national hockey media this week -- and rightfully so!

MacLean/Sportsnet and FoxSports will catch up to the rest of em eventually.

-LTL