from Michael Arace of the Columbus Dispatch,

The Jackets’ hockey people had everything figured out — and, nine months ago, they were thumping their chests.

“(At the end of 2011-12) we were 30th in the league,” Davidson said then. “This year, we were 16 games over .500 from Dec. 1 on. ... I feel very positive about the future of this franchise. Lot of depth. Lot of talent.”

They liked their team and they talked about playoffs. They did not dismiss suggestions of a deep postseason run.

“We know what this group can do,” Davidson said. “That’s what we saw at the end of the year.”

The Jackets won 15 of their last 17 games last season. Yes, they were already blown out of the playoff picture and, yes, there was no pressure on them — but 15-1-1 fed expectations.

It fertilized hope.

The key word there is fertilize.

The Jackets will carry a 15-24-4 record into their game tonight at the New York Islanders. Their 34 points are among the six-worst 43-game totals in th 14 nonlockout seasons they have played.

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