It’s common for NHL coaches to stick up for others in the fraternity, especially when their clubs are reeling, but after Columbus dealt the Blues a 7-4 defeat on Oct. 25, Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella went out of his way to do so. 



When asked about the win being extra gratifying because the Blues were a desperate team, Tortorella said this to reporters: “That’s a good team.  That’s a good coaching staff over there.  I know there are some struggles … That’s going to be a really good hockey team before it’s all said and done.” 



Not soon enough for many Blues fans, who wondered that night how long the coaching staff would be allowed to stick around.  But the club responded with back-to-back wins over Chicago and Vegas, scoring a dozen goals in the process, and while it might not have convinced everyone that changes aren’t inevitable, there were signs of traction. 



On Saturday, however, in a 5-1 defeat at...