It may be fun, but for a long time it was unremarkable, happening outside the playoff picture, a fun story hockey fanatics might notice, but not the casual fan.

No longer.

The Blue Jackets are the best story in hockey, maybe all of sports, and they displayed it to a national TV audience in compelling fashion Saturday.

Hopefully, people took notice.

“The Columbus Blue Jackets know who we are at this point,” Columbus coach Dean Evason said. “We know that if we play the way we play, we are going to give ourselves a chance to win every night. You are not going to. This is an incredible league. But we’ve set a standard for ourselves in how we play.

“This team, all they care about is the two points at the end of the night. … They just play for each other, and I think that shows in our game.”

The Red Wings have taken notice. Columbus beat them in two distinct ways during the past 48 hours. Thursday, in Detroit, they were the better team from start to finish in a 5-2 win. Saturday, they scratched and clawed, blowing the lead twice, including allowing the goal that tied it at 3-3 with 3:24 remaining in the game.

“They are having fun playing the game and when you are having fun playing the game, it comes easier,” Red Wings coach Todd McLellan said. “I think their staff has done a tremendous job of putting structure in play and the belief system is strong. You put those three things together and you give yourself a chance to win. … I think Columbus has it right now.”

It was evident throughout this game.

Out of nowhere, there was fourth-line center Justin Danforth, cutting between two Detroit defensemen and being denied on his shot by Cam Talbot. But, showing hustle, grit and skill, he got to his own rebound and scored the game-winning goal. It was his sixth goal in 39 games this season. Fellow fourth-liner Mathieu Olivier made it 3-1. Defenseman Denton Mateychuk, a rookie, gave Columbus the 1-0 lead with his third goal in 22 games this season.