In Columbus, the Blue Jackets were riding a 10-game win streak but the visiting St Louis Blues were far more desperate.
That desperation helped the Blues end the streak with a 2-1 win Saturday.
Jake Allen made 33 saves to push the Blues into the second wild card spot in the Western Conference.
“It’s complete desperation on our part, like the season’s on the line, so the challenge for us is to make sure that doesn’t change,” St. Louis coach Mike Yeo said.
St Louis holds the tie breaker with the Anaheim Ducks for the playoff spot.
Alexander Steen and Vladimir Tarasenko scored for St Louis.
“You don’t beat a team like that in their building on a back-to-back night unless you have a lot of really good performances,” Yeo said after the win.
The Jackets dropped to 42-29-5 and trail second place in the Metropolitan Division by a single point.
“I couldn’t care less that it’s come to an end,” the Blue Jackets’ Nick Foligno said. “I’m disappointed we didn’t get the two points. That’s the part that stings. We’re not going to let this one bother us too much.”
Cam Atkinson scored the lone goal for Columbus.
“I had a lot of chances. Of course, a fluky little shot went in,” Atkinson said.
[WATCH:Â All Blues vs. Blue Jackets highlights]
Sergei Bobrovsky made 26 saves in taking the loss.
“You’ve got to give them credit for their checking in the third. We had enough chances. We just couldn’t beat [goalie Jake Allen]” Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella said after the game.
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