COLUMBUS, Ohio -- They're not building a trophy case for the Stanley Cup just yet. But fans in this city more familiar with touchdowns than slapshots are going crazy over the expansion Blue Jackets and their three-game winning streak.

Besides captivating Columbus, the suddenly potent new club -- one win away from tying the NHL mark for consecutive victories by a first-year team -- also has attracted the attention of the hockey establishment.

	Goalie Ron Tugnutt has been a stalwart for the upstart Blue Jackets.

"They play with a strong passion, a strong sense of purpose," Dallas Stars coach Ken Hitchcock said Tuesday night. "If you don't have the same purpose, you're not going to beat them."

Hitchcock was shaking his head over a 3-2 loss to the Blue Jackets, the same team that had looked extremely expansion-like in a 4-0 lashing on Nov. 1 back in Dallas.

Since then, the Blue Jackets have found their stride offensively and have continued to play solid defense in front of veteran goalkeeper Ron Tugnutt.

Playing before rabid, capacity crowds at their new downtown arena, the team that won just one of its first nine games is now 5-3-1-0 in its last nine against teams that made the playoffs a year ago.

The latest victory pushed Columbus past Chicago and out of last place in the Western Conference's Central Division, considered the toughest in the NHL. With 14 points, the Blue Jackets would be tied for the lead in the weak Southeast Division

If the Blue Jackets win in Nashville Thursday night, they will tie the NHL record of four consecutive victories by a first-year team, held by eight teams -- most recently the Florida Panthers in January 1994.

If they win in Nashville, the Blue Jackets can set the record at home against Florida Friday night.

The Stars' Brett Hull has seen more than a few expansion teams, both in his lengthy career and while tagging along to rinks with his Hall of Fame father, Bobby. He scored both Dallas goals in the loss in Columbus and was amazed by what he had seen go on in the arena.

	“	Amazing. We're playing against some pretty good teams. ... This is no fluke. ”
		— Columbus coach Dave King after beating Dallas.

"As a player you only look up from the bench and look at the surroundings," he said. "Very nice. Very nice."

There were those who doubted hockey would take off in Columbus, which was the nation's largest city without a major-league baseball, NFL, NBA or NHL team before steel magnate John H. McConnell put up the $80 million to bring the Blue Jackets to town.

In return, Blue Jackets fans gave him a 30-second standing ovation before the team's season-opening game against Chicago. When was the last time George Steinbrenner or Jerry Jones received such adoration?

After the franchise was awarded to Columbus, McConnell's first move was to hire Doug MacLean as president and general manager. MacLean, who coached Florida to the Stanley Cup finals, assembled a team that featured veterans such as Steve Heinze, Geoff Sanderson and Lyle Odelein. He rounded out the edges with young talent like top entry-draft pick Rostislav Klesla, who is being seasoned in the minors, and several castoffs and free agents.

He selected Dave King, known for his work with the Canadian National Team as well as three playoff years in Calgary, as coach. King stresses hard work and uptempo workouts that hide the team's glaring weaknesses in depth and firepower.

Even he seems surprised by the team's early success.

"Amazing," King said after the latest win. "We're playing against some pretty good teams. ... This is no fluke."

There is no question the Blue Jackets are on a roll, on and off the ice. Fans are snapping up hundreds of "Vote Tugnutt" T-shirts, a marketing maneuver that started out promoting the goalie as a presidential candidate but is now providing a groundswell of support for his All-Star game candidacy.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said there was never much risk in placing a team in Ohio's capital city.

"This is a good sports town and right now this is the only big-league team here," he said. "We knew it was going to work."

After a recent game against Columbus, Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Jaromir Jagr cautioned the fans to not get ahead of themselves.

"You have to understand that there are a lot of new guys," he said. "You can't just snap your fingers and win the Stanley Cup. You have to have patience."

The Blue Jackets are just 18 games into their 82-game schedule. The winning bubble can burst at any second, but that still doesn't mean the team's fans, players, coaches and front office aren't enjoying the ride.

"It's a nice habit to get into," King said with a broad smile after the winning streak reached three. "We're playing some great teams and we are getting some very good results. For our team right now it is one of the high points of the season. We're having a tremendous 10 days."