All is far from lost, but on this night 2 points were

As Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella is wont to say, “defense” is about how five men play away from the puck. It takes concentration and dedication, which Sunday night were sullied by the prospect of vacation. Two points slid, like grains of Caribbean sand, through the Jackets’ collective defense.

The Jackets lost 4-3 to the Nashville Predators before a crowd of 17,894 in Nationwide Arena. The Predators were playing on the second night of a back-to-back after taking a league-mandated, five-day bye week. The Predators had lost four of their previous six, all in regulation.

These Predators are not the “Darth Vader” who vexed the Jackets for more than a decade. Their old coach, Barry Trotz, is in

Washington. Their offense is now built around Ryan Johansen, their defense around P.K. Subban, and they have yet to click. They are not a good road team. They were there to be had Sunday night. The Jackets did not capitalize.

The Jackets, with 25 games remaining, have played more than three-quarters of their regular season. They are in a good place thanks to a 16-game winning streak that came to an end one month ago. They are a playoff team, which should be celebrated (and I will, below). They are, by many statistical measures, a burgeoning beast.

For all of this, the Jackets are not in a position to be blithe about two points. They are 10-11-1 since the streak, which is the very definition of mediocre. They have played their last six games on home ice and are 3-3. They had close to a full house Sunday night — another chance to jack up their most ardent supporters — and they squandered the opportunity.

“We weren’t hungry enough for the two points,” goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky said. “It cost us the game.”

That comment is spot on.

Granted, the Jackets’ offense oozed danger, if not productivity. Rookie defenseman Zach Werenski, who is supposed to be tired, had a monster night with three points and a breathtaking goal that tied the game 3-3 early in the third period. Center Alexander Wennberg, despite an unfortunate giveaway, was excellent, as was defenseman Seth Jones. Bobrovsky (28 saves) was terrific.

Bob was also hung out to dry. He faced four breakaways and just as many odd-man rushes. He gave up the gamewinner after a bad line change left the back door open for Mattias Ekholm, who scored into a gaping net at 9:09 of the third.

Remember those two points the Jackets secured with a moving victory over Pittsburgh on Friday night? They were thrown in the ocean Sunday night. It’s not the end of the world. It is unfortunate, though, given that the Penguins lost earlier Sunday — and that teams are being slaughtered in their first games back from vacation.

The Jackets players now depart on their own five-day, leaguemandated bye week. They are the last team in the Metropolitan Division to take this collectively bargained vacation. That means that Pittsburgh and Washington have time to pad their lead at the top of the Metropolitan — and the Rangers have a chance to catch or close the gap on the third-place Jackets.

The good news is the Jackets can afford their beach time because they have played so well through 57 games. They have 37 victories, 79 points and one of the best goal differentials (plus-45) in the league. They have been good at home and on the road. Their power play remains highly ranked, their penalty kill is better than average. Bobrovsky is a Vezina candidate, Werenkski will be in the Calder discussion and Oliver Bjorkstrand looks like he’s going to be a big help down the stretch.

It should be fun if all of the players follow Tortorella’s post-vacation instructions.