DALLAS -- R.J. Umberger -- like almost every NHL veteran -- has endured an incomprehensible losing streak during his career. But that doesn't make the Blue Jackets' current freefall any easier to take.

"You try to come out and play the right way, but then the other team scores and that feeling just hits you: 'Here we go again,'  " Umberger said.

The Blue Jackets carry a seven-game losing streak into a game tonight against the Dallas Stars in American Airlines Center. They've dropped nine straight on the road and 15 of 17 games overall.

As those numbers have grown, so has the burden on the shoulders of the Blue Jackets' players, and it's been evident in their play of late -- tentative, afraid to make a mistake, slow of mind and foot. During the seven losses, they've given up the first goal six times and been outscored 10-1 in the first period.

"Everyone is angry and frustrated," captain Rick Nash said.

Yesterday was an emotional day spent off the ice, searching for a way to lift the stress that threatens to ruin the season.

The most noteworthy event occurred before noon, when general manager Scott Howson, coach Ken Hitchcock and his staff and 10 veteran players --Nash, Umberger, Antoine Vermette, Fredrik Modin, Sammy Pahlsson, Kristian Huselius, Jason Chimera, Mike Commodore, Jan Hejda and Fedor Tyutin -- stepped into a conference room for a meeting that stunned at least a few of the players.

According to players, who didn't want to discuss the meeting publicly, Hitchcock opened up in a way they have not seen, letting down his "coaching" guard and showing them a side that rarely finds its way through all the film study and the harping on playing more competitively.

Hitchcock wouldn't divulge specifics, either, but did say: "They needed to know that I've got their back.

"Look, this is a group that cares. It cares deeply, and it wants to do so well for the city and the franchise and fans. It's a very sincere group, but they're all engulfed in this stress right now.

"As an organization -- all of us -- we wanted and expected to move up the ladder from last season. It hasn't happened that way so far this season, but we can't be overwhelmed with the burden of what's going on right now. We have to free up our minds and just play. That was the message."

Umberger recalled the 2007-08 season with the Philadelphia Flyers, who followed a 30-17-5 start with a 10-game losing streak.

"It was just like what we're going through here -- nothing made any sense, nothing worked," Umberger said. "We went into Buffalo (Feb. 25, 2008) where we hadn't won in a long, long time. We got down 3-0. But we came back, and Danny Briere -- who was really struggling -- scored a goal in the shootout to win it against his former team."

Umberger scored the tying goal late in the third period.

"It changed everything in the dressing room," Umberger said. "It was something we could grab as a team, something we could build off. It turned the tide."

What will it take to shake the Blue Jackets out of this fog? A comeback win? A line brawl? A hat trick?

"It's two or three players who take it upon themselves to make a difference," Hitchcock said. "We have those players."

Slap shot

After a one-game shake-up, the Blue Jackets will resort to form with their top two lines: Huselius will rejoin the top line with Vermette and Nash, while Jake Voracek returns to the second line with Umberger and Derick Brassard.

aportzline@dispatch.com