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Blue Jackets embrace spoiler role, beat Kings 3-1

Jack Johnson, David Rundblad

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson, right, shoots in front of Phoenix Coyotes defenseman David Rundblad in the first period during an NHL hockey game on Saturday, March 3, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

AP

Aside from maybe the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers,* the Columbus Blue Jackets might just be the NHL’s most seasoned spoilers. Well, that’s at least true from a sheer experience standpoint as Columbus has only made the playoffs once in its sorry run, but they haven’t always been much of a headache for contenders hoping to stock up on points.

They’ve been far from a pushover lately, however.

Ever since March began, the Blue Jackets have been a pain in the neck to teams that really need every standings point. They beat the Colorado Avalanche 2-0 last Thursday, won back-to-back games against the Phoenix Coyotes and helped Jack Johnson extract what must have been a bitter bit of revenge from a Los Angeles Kings team that flippantly traded him away. Johnson and the Blue Jackets earned a 3-1 win against the Kings tonight.

That’s a four-game winning streak against squads that were taking those games very seriously. The Blue Jackets are also 4-1-0 since the trade deadline, with only a loss to the Detroit Red Wings to muck up the good times.

While tonight’s win was all about Johnson - who might as well have taunted Kings GM Dean Lombardi upon scoring a goal - one cannot help but wonder if the franchise might try to finish strong to help mend the fences with Rick Nash. Look, I’ll admit that’s a far-fetched idea, but aside from the delightful spiteful task of spoiling other teams’ playoff runs, it’s at least a carrot to dangle in front of a team that’s playing for little more than dignity right now.

In other words, the St. Louis Blues might not want to take their upcoming home-and-home with the Blue Jackets too lightly.

* Masochistic Toronto Maple Leafs fans might also demand their team’s inclusion in the perpetual spoilers club.