DETROIT – After serving as fodder for the Red Wings for most of their 12-year existence, the Columbus Blue Jackets did a lot of damage this season to Detroit's playoff hopes.

The Red Wings squandered many valuable points against the Blue Jackets. Those points will be difficult to recoup with a demanding schedule that features 14 of the final 22 games on the road.

The Red Wings (12-9-5) ended a disappointing weekend Sunday with a 3-2 shootout loss to the Blue Jackets at Joe Louis Arena.

It followed a 3-0 loss at Columbus the day before. The Blue Jackets registered their fourth consecutive win in the season series that has mercifully ended for the Red Wings, who gained only three of a possible 10 points.

“It definitely is frustrating we couldn't pick up the second point,'' Detroit goaltender Jimmy Howard said. “They play a tough style. They dump the puck in and they all fall back in their zone. All five of them are just standing there in front of the net and it's tough to get pucks through.

“They played us tough all year. They've beaten us different ways. We haven't found an answer yet for them.''

Unless they meet in the playoffs, that answer will have to wait until next season, when both clubs move to the Eastern Conference, but in separate divisions. The NHL's realignment plan is expected to be approved by the board of governors by Wednesday.

The Red Wings' final season in the Western Conference is shaping up as a season-long battle to extend their 21-season playoff streak.

Games like Sunday's don't help. The Red Wings had an awful first period, tied it 25 seconds into the third period on Johan Franzen's goal during a five-on-three power play, but had to kill two penalties later in the period just to get to overtime.

Ryan Johansen and Matt Calvert scored on the Blue Jackets' lone shootout attempts, while Sergei Bobrovsky made saves against Damien Brunner and Henrik Zetterberg, after Pavel Datsyuk scored.

Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said his team competed harder Sunday than the day before, but still was disappointed to leave points on the table, especially at home.

“In the end, we haven't been good enough,'' Babcock said. “We thought we had it going pretty good (during a recent 5-1-1 run). But even when we win, we win 2-1. It looks like we can't give up two, we can only give up one. That's a hard way to play. Hopefully, we can get things fixed so we can move the puck better and generate more offense.''

Babcock anticipates a boost when some of his injured players return, specifically Valtteri Filppula, who could be back as early as Wednesday in Calgary, and Darren Helm, who is skating but still out indefinitely.

But, Babcock also noted that Columbus was missing injured forwards Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov and Derek Dorsett and defenseman James Wisniewski.

The Red Wings struggled to move the puck early, leading to virtually no forecheck and little offensive-zone time.

“They got a big D, they're making it hard on you and we're not that heavy up front, so we spend little time in their zone,'' Babcock said. “If you come out of your zone with speed and execute, then you got a better chance of being on top of people and hanging onto the puck.''

Said Detroit defenseman Jonathan Ericsson: “They play a game that I guess we couldn't handle. They were tough on us and we couldn't really get to the net and get anything dangerous around their net.''

The Red Wings didn't handle the Blue Jackets forecheck well in the two games.

“When you don't make any plays on the back it's hard for your forwards to have speed and spend time in their zone,'' Babcock said. “In both games, I didn't think either team was very dangerous at all. It was just one of those, I don't know if you would call it a check-fest or whatever, but no one gets anything, nothing goes on.''

Enough went on for Columbus to extend its winning streak to five games.

Derick Brassard opened the scoring at 3:10 of the second period with a blast from near the boards that sailed over Howard's right shoulder.

Jakub Kindl tied it at 3:40, taking a pass from Datsyuk and firing a shot over Sergei Bobrovsky's glove.

R.J. Umberger gave the Blue Jackets back the lead at 4:25. After Umberger's first shot was blocked by Brunner, Zetterberg overskated the puck, allowing Umberger to tee up another shot that sailed over Howard's glove.

“The puck went between my skate and stick and straight to their guy and one-timer, boom, and in the back of the net,'' Zetterberg said. “That was tough, especially after we got our first one right before.''

The Blue Jackets went 4-0-1 vs. the Red Wings, winning the season series for the first time since they entered the NHL in 2000-01.

“They've been giving it to us,'' Brassard said. “It's great to come back strong.”