Streak is on the line today

The Blue Jackets’ 16-game winning streak attracted national attention even from sports fans not knowing a Suter from a Sutter or a Korpisalo from a Korpikoski.

This afternoon at Nationwide Arena, the playoff- bound club puts another streak on the line — an obscure one that nevertheless has played a role in the best season in franchise history. The Jackets are the only team in the NHL not to drop three consecutive games. The players and coaches understand the importance of cutting their losses.

“Not stringing multiple losses in a row has put us in the position we’re in today,” defenseman Jack Johnson said.

The Jackets, who trail the Washington Capitals by three points in the race for the top spot in the Metro Division and league, meet the Philadelphia Flyers, and a loss would end the streak after a regulation loss to Toronto on Wednesday and shootout loss to Washington on Thursday.

Coach John Tortorella and the players rarely get asked about the run, but there’s clearly pride in the achievement.

“It’s important, ( and) give the players credit,” Tortorella said. “We have a pretty good team and it’s one that assesses really well. … I think our guys have been really good, not with just how the results are, but how we’re playing. I think that’s helped us with our consistency.”

The Flyers, who are six points out of the final Eastern Conference playoff spot, know the pitfalls of a post win- streak hangover. They won 10 consecutive games from Nov. 27 to Dec. 14 before losing seven of the next eight games.

Although the Blue Jackets endured a 10- 11- 1 funk after their 16- game streak, they never fell apart. They twice recovered from two- game stumbles with overtime wins, including one against the Flyers on Jan. 8. Overall, they have lost back- to- back games in regulation just three times.

Excellent goaltending from Sergei Bobrovsky — who leads the NHL in wins ( 39), save percentage (. 932) and goals- against average ( 2.02) — has played a major part. Alternate captain Brandon Dubinsky offered other theories.

“I think it speaks to our resilience and our ability to put tough losses behind us and move on to the next game and prepare the right way,” he said. “Also, I think it says something about the consistency of the group.”

In their tortured history, the Blue Jackets are familiar with long slides, particularly early in seasons. Five times they have lost eight or more straight games, including the epic collapse that cost Todd Richards his job to start last season.

The franchise mark for fewest consecutive setbacks is three in the 2007- 08 and 2008- 09 seasons. A new record could be established, but the Jackets will need a win today to keep hope alive.

“It just comes down to that we have played well this year,” Johnson said. “We have done it all year, and we’re a good team.”