The Blue Jackets don't see it that way, even though they trail the seemingly invincible Detroit Red Wings 3-0 in a best-of-seven first-round series, with Game 4 tonight.

"Oh, yeah, we've got lots left," coach Ken Hitchcock said. "We have a good spirit. We've played better and better in each game. How much better can we play in Game 4? That's the question we've all been asking ourselves."

The Blue Jackets have fought discouragement, Hitchcock and the players have said. But they insist that motivation will not be an issue.

"I think on an individual level you get up for it because you have pride," defenseman Mike Commodore said. "I want to go out and play well. We've had a good season, and I don't want it to end like this.

"But even more is the unique situation in this city right now. I would love nothing more than to win a game in front of the fans here, give them something to cheer about. It would be very nice to win tonight."

One problem: The first three games haven't been close, with the Red Wings outscoring the Blue Jackets 12-2.

R.J. Umberger is the only Blue Jackets player who has scored. When he scored with 3:53 remaining Tuesday in a 4-1 loss, it stopped a string of 10 straight goals for the Red Wings.

"It's been very frustrating," center Antoine Vermette said. "That's a word I'm sure a lot of guys are using right now, but you have to push it aside and keep going."

It has been a lesson for the Blue Jackets, and a painful one. They have tried to hit the Red Wings, but they can't catch up to the puck. They had hoped to beat Chris Osgood, but the Red Wings goaltender has been solid, posting a .974 save percentage.

Meanwhile, the Blue Jackets' top two guns -- goaltender Steve Mason and captain Rick Nash -- have been under duress, and they have not played at their regular-season level.

"You think you're cohesive in your game, and we've been really proud of that all season," Hitchcock said. "Well, there's another level of cohesion, and we're learning that.

"Examples: (The Red Wings) don't make mistakes with stick position. They don't make mistakes with entries (into the offensive zone). They don't make mistakes when it's time to go back and retrieve the puck in their own zone. They don't make those mistakes."

Even with the end appearing to be near and the Blue Jackets struggling on offense, it appears that rookie forwards Derick Brassard and Nikita Filatov won't get a chance to play.

Hitchcock said Brassard, recovering from a right shoulder injury, has not been medically cleared, and the Jackets are not taking any chances. As for Filatov? Not a chance.

"This is a hockey club that has put its heart and soul into everything, and I don't think it would look good on me or the coaching staff if we bailed on people who have given us everything all season," Hitchcock said. "Tryouts for next season will be in September."

Unless the Blue Jackets win tonight, they'll join an unfortunate exclusive club. Since the NHL's expansion in 1991-92, only the Atlanta Thrashers (2007) have been swept in their first playoff appearance.

Nash insisted that one win was not the goal.

"We're not out of this," he said. "Obviously, we're in a big hole. But we're going game by game, and it starts (tonight) with a huge effort."

aportzline@dispatch.com