Columbus would get off to a poor start, winning only one out of 13 games to open the season and falling to last place in the Western Conference.
The 57 points the Jackets earned was the second fewest in the League, only ahead of the Atlanta Thrashers, who finished with 54.
Tragedy struck at Nationwide Arena during a game on March 16, 2002, against the Calgary Flames, when a shot by Jackets forward Espen Knutsen was deflected off the stick of Flames defenceman Derek Morris and sailed into the stands, hitting 13-year-old Brittanie Cecil in the head.
The Blue Jackets would finish the season 30th in the League in scoring, with 164 goals for, and would be shut out an NHL-high 11 times.
[1][2] Note: CR = Conference rank; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; OTL = Overtime loss; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.