Columbus Blue Jackets: Tough Out-of-Town Results

Four wins in a row mean that the Columbus Blue Jackets are just treading water.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are riding their longest winning streak since late November. Eight straight points in four games is exactly what this team needed in March. But they also needed a little luck with the out of town scoreboard that just hasn’t come.

The Florida Panthers are nipping at the Jackets heels and they still have three games in hand. They have won eight of their last nine games. That isn’t helping the Jackets much in their run toward the playoffs. The Panthers pulled out a shootout victory of the New York Rangers on Saturday to keep pace with the CBJ.

The New Jersey Devils, facing a daunting eight game road trip started out with a surprising win agains the Nashville Predators. Playing in one of the toughest arenas in the NHL, the Devils won in a shootout to keep a two point lead on the Jackets. It’s universally agreed that the tough road trip will be tough for New Jersey to get through without losing a playoff spot, but they are off to a great start.

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Finally the Philadelphia Flyers are just four points ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets and occupy the final Metro playoff spot. They certainly can be caught and could be endanger of missing the playoffs. The Flyers though also won on Saturday against the hot Winnipeg Jets. That win stopped a five game losing streak for the Flyers.

Jackets Still in Drivers Seat

Even with this rough stretch of luck the Columbus Blue Jackets have been facing with their competition winning, they are still in the drivers seat. They currently sit in the last wild card spot and have a much more fortuitous schedule than their foes.

Related Story: CBJ Still in Drivers Seat

The Jackets also still have games against the Flyers and Panthers on the schedule. A sweep of those two games would be massive for their playoff hopes.

Even with the rough out-of-town results, the Jackets improved play is promising. Combined with their schedule fans should be feeling optimistic.