For the third time in franchise history, the Blue Jackets will play for Lord Stanley’s beautiful cup.

They won their fourth consecutive game on Sunday afternoon at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., giving them their 47th win and 100th point of the season, mathematically sufficient to secure a berth in the postseason tournament. It's the first 100-point season in franchise history.

On Mar. 19 – the earliest the club has ever clinched a playoff berth by nearly a month – the Blue Jackets have ensured that hockey will be played at Nationwide Arena into late April. Granted, the aspect of the clinch was more of an inevitability than anything in recent weeks, but to get the job done today in a tough game against a division rival has to feel good for this team.

Picked by most hockey experts, pundits, etc. to be one of the worst teams in the business, this Blue Jackets team has defied all odds and become the best team in club history, and also, one of the best teams in hockey’s most lethal division.

They’ve got a playoff spot in their back pocket now, but the Blue Jackets have other goals. They are breathing down the necks of the Washington Capitals – now dead even on points with the Metro Division leaders – and have their sights set on the Presidents’ Trophy, which would guarantee home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs.

And of course, the Blue Jackets couldn’t get it done today without a few curveballs along the way.

Alexander Wennberg missed Sunday’s game with an upper body injury suffered on Saturday in Brooklyn, meaning that recently-activated center Lukas Sedlak got into the lineup. Sedlak scored a penalty shot goal in the first period to open the scoring, and Brandon Dubinsky also scored on a second-period penalty shot to give Columbus a 3-1 edge through two.

Stick with us at 1stOhioBattery.com as we’ll have more coverage of the Blue Jackets’ playoff clinch in the days ahead.

Here we go.

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