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Nabokov shuts down suddenly struggling Blue Jackets

Evgeni Nabokov, Boone Jenner, Calvin de Haan, Nathan Horton

New York Islanders goalie Evgeni Nabokov (20) defends the goal as Columbus Blue Jackets’ Boone Jenner (38), Nathan Horton (8) and Islanders’ Calvin de Haan (44) battle for the puck in the third period of an NHL hockey game on Sunday, March 23, 2014, in Uniondale, N.Y. The Islanders shut out the Blue Jackets 2-0. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)

AP

On paper, Sunday seemed like a great chance for the Columbus Blue Jackets to jump back into the wild card ranks against the New York Islanders. Instead, the “little rats” ran into a trap named Evgeni Nabokov who stopped all 41 of their shots, beating Columbus 2-0.

If this didn’t seem like an upset in a vacuum, consider the fact that this is only the second time the Blue Jackets have lost to the Islanders in regulation in their franchise history. The Columbus Dispatch’s Shawn Mitchell reports that they’re now 11-2-4 against the Isles and went 45 games without being shut out.

With this, the Blue Jackets have now lost three of their last four games, only managing two points in four important games.

Here is a look at their place in the East standings as of this moment:

eastmarch23

James OBrien

The Blue Jackets will root for a two-point game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the New Jersey Devils tonight and face a big game against the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday. Columbus certainly isn’t out of this race, but losses like these could come back to haunt them.

It might mean more time for Putt-Putt, though.

Follow James O’Brien @cyclelikesedins