Columbus Blue Jackets Remaining Schedule: By The Numbers

Mar 3, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender

(72) during a break in the action against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the third period at the Air Canada Centre. Columbus defeated Toronto 2-1. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

The Columbus Blue Jackets have 18 games remaining in the 2013-2014 NHL regular season, they currently have 71 points with a 33-26-5 record, and are 1 point or 1 Detroit loss out of a playoff spot. I thought I would take a look at what is left on the schedule and what it might take to reach the playoffs…here we go.

The Blue Jackets play 12 Eastern Conference opponents and 6 Western Conference opponents, the combined record of the teams left on the Blue Jackets schedule is 575-428-151. At first glance this seems like a daunting task, but the average record of the opponents is 32-24-8, which is a close resemblance of the Blue Jackets current record of 33-26-5. It is not going to be an easy road, however the Blue Jackets bounced back after their abysmal showing in Chicago on Thursday, to shutout the Nashville Predators 1-0 last night.

There are 10 games remaining in Nationwide Arena, where the Blue Jackets have an 18-11-2 record, and 8 games remaining on the road where the Blue Jackets are 15-15-3. Home ice is on the Blue Jackets side but just barely.

Out of the 18 games remaining on the Columbus Blue Jackets schedule, 12 of the games are against teams that currently hold a playoff spot. That includes 11 of the 16 teams that are currently sitting the in the playoffs, as they play the hated Detroit Red Wings 2 times in that period.

As I see it the Blue Jackets would need to win 3 out of every 4 games to assure them a spot in the playoffs, although nothing is ever a lock. That would give the Blue Jackets a remaining record of somewhere around 13-4-1, which would give them an extra 27 points, for a total of 98 points on the year. If the Blue Jackets end the season with 98 points, I would feel pretty confident about their chances of nabbing one of the 8 spots in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

A 13-4-1 final run would give the Blue Jackets a 46-30-6 record, eclipsing the teams former best record of 41-31-10 in 2008-2009, the only year the Blue Jackets made the playoffs. If the Blue Jackets can continue their impressive play down the home stretch and make the playoffs, here’s hoping they have a better showing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs than they did in the Spring of 2009.

Here’s hoping the Columbus Blue Jackets have what it takes to give this city something to cheer for, other than sun and warm weather in April and beyond. What do you think CBJ fans, do they have what it takes?