Week 24 Power Rankings: Staying above the bar

TSN.ca
Rank: 11 (unchanged)
Sunday's loss to St. Louis marked only the second time in the last ten games that the Blue Jackets (currently sixth in the West) didn't come away with any points and sets up two huge games against the Predators (seventh in the West) this week.

CBSSports.com
Rank: 15 (-5)
Reality check for the Blue Jackets, who may have been thinking a little too much about a first playoff appearance while winning only one of four games last week.

CBC.ca
Rank: 12 (+1)
The Blues kept them from securing their playoff spot.

ESPN.com
Rank: 12 (-4)
Seven wonderful words the Blue Jackets haven't said in eight seasons of existence: Playoff tickets go on sale April 11.

ColumbusDispatch.com
Rank: 12 (-3)
The John Tesh power play approach -- "Think happy thoughts!" -- worked for one day. Now what? Dr. Phil?

Sportsnet.ca
Rank 13 (unchanged)
Steve loses 5-2 to Chris in the battle of excellent goaltenders named Mason.

CNNSI.com
Rank: 12 (-3)
All they had to do was take care of business down the stretch to give their fans reason to queue up for playoff tickets on April 11. Now, after four sub-par efforts in their last five outings, they have to do some soul searching and figure out if they're up to this challenge. Probably wouldn't hurt to give Steve Mason a night off along the way, too. He looks tired again.

THN.com
Ranl: 13 (-7)
Rostislav Klesla is out with an upper-body injury, no surprise considering he hasn't played more than 11 consecutive games this year due to a variety of injuries

Yahoo.com
Rank: 13 (-11)
If the Blue Jackets earn their first playoff appearance, it won’t be because they backed in. Columbus faces teams desperate for points (Nashville, Chicago, St. Louis and Minnesota) in all six of their remaining games.

FoxSports.com
Rank: 14 (-1)
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.

Meta-score: 12.7

The boys slipped a little this week but most of these rankings do not account for the big win over Nashville on Tuesday night.

Not sure what Fox Sports is smokin with the 3 wins in 4 games (more like 3 losses in 4 before Nashville) but hey, watchya gonna do!

Just win baby!

-LTL