How the network would handle the situation won't be hammered out until the Stanley Cup and NBA playoff schedules are released this month. But Blue Jackets fans shouldn't worry, said Henry Ford, Fox Sports Ohio's senior vice president and general manager.

"I can assure fans that all of the Blue Jackets games will air in Columbus across all of our affiliates," Ford said. "We'll endeavor to take the Blue Jackets to every corner of the market."

It could get tricky in Cincinnati and Cleveland, however. Blue Jackets games would still air in those markets but could be moved to an alternate channel to make way for the Reds and Cavaliers if there's a conflict, Ford said.

"We're looking to air all of the Blue Jackets games in (high definition)," Ford said. "If that's the case, we certainly have overflow channels we could use for the purpose."

The NHL will release the playoff schedule next Monday.

"This is not something we've had to deal with before," Blue Jackets vice president of marketing and broadcasting Marc Gregory said. "But we're prepared for it as soon as the schedule is out."

The Blue Jackets have drawn record ratings this season, but they still lag far behind the Cavaliers and Reds.

The Cavs draw ratings in the 10.0 to 13.5 range, and the Reds draw in the 5.0 to 7.5 range. The Blue Jackets are lucky to get ratings above 3.0. A ratings point is worth roughly 10,000 households.

"The ratings this season have been remarkable for us," Ford said. "They rival some of the elite teams in the (NHL) at this point. For the whole of the season, Columbus is one of the top five or six local markets in the league.

"The Blue Jackets are really inspiring a lot of fans with their play this season. They're almost, you could say, inspiring a new tradition in Columbus."

\ A glut of players

Now that left winger Jason Chimera has returned to active duty, the Blue Jackets have 16 forwards on the active roster.

Last night, they had four healthy scratches: Derek Dorsett, Andrew Murray, Nikita Filatov and Chris Gratton.

"My only fear is that it's a distraction for the guys who are playing," coach Ken Hitchcock said. "If you had to do this for two or three or four months, it would be a distraction. But for a short time like this, it's not a distraction.

"It's nice for the coach to know he has some options."

\ Slap shot

The Chicago Blackhawks will be without forward Patrick Sharp (knee) today for a game against the Blue Jackets in Nationwide Arena after he collided with Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne on Friday.

aportzline@dispatch.com