Tonight's matchup between the Blue Jackets and Islanders is exactly the kind of game the 5th Line has been patiently waiting for over the last half dozen years. This is a pivotal matchup where the outcome could go a long way towards deciding the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference.
The Jackets enter this one red hot, having won four games in a row and earning points in 12 straight. They got the job done at home last night, efficiently disposing of the Seattle Kraken in a 5-2 game that was never really in question.
Meanwhile, the Islanders have stumbled a bit, losing their last two games in regulation. That has all of the pressure on them tonight, as they sit just outside the last playoff spot in the East. They are 2 points behind the Blue Jackets in the standings.
Buckle up, this one is massive for both sides.
The Opponent
The Islanders are 39-26-5 (83 points), currently 9th in the conference and 4th in the Metropolitan Division. Since the Olympic break however, they have fallen off a bit, going 7-5-0; but with only 3 regulation wins in that span.
They also played last night, losing 7-3 in Montreal. That game saw star goaltender Ilya Sorokin chased in the third period, presumably to preserve him for the back-to-back start tonight against the Blue Jackets. They need points in a big way, so head coach Patrick Roy is leaning heavily on their starter.
Up front, the Islanders are led in scoring by Mathew Barzal, who has 18 goals and 64 points on the season. Bo Horvat leads the way in goals with 28, with rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer sitting second on the team in scoring between these two, with 51 points on the season.
Schaefer has energized a franchise that was definitely starting to stagnate, and needing a reset. He's helped drag everything out of the Isles this season, taking the league by storm and honestly leading them into playoff competition.
Still, this is the same old Islanders team that is going to stick to their system. Under Roy's guidance, they play a relentless, smothering style of hockey that is not unlike the one the Blue Jackets have been playing under Rick Bowness.
That's a nice way of saying that this game could turn into a bit of a stalemate early on, as both teams stay above the puck and carefully look to time their forechecks. Even so, I expect this to be nothing short of a playoff-type hockey game. It will be intense.
The Good Guys
The Jackets stormed out to a 3-0 lead over the Kraken yesterday, scoring three times in the first 15:16 of the game. The Kraken were able to cut the lead as far as 3-2, but the Jackets quickly took the game back over and put them away with another dominant third period.
They avoided the trap, but now have to quickly turn their attention towards a different kind of game. With their fourth win in a row, they sit just one point behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for second place in the Metro. But the Isles are hot on their heels, and should give them a much different test tonight.
With the team playing so well, there is only one change to the lineup tonight. Jet Greaves gets the nod in goal on the second half of a back-to-back. Hopefully he's dialed in for this one, because this Isles team always finds stretches of momentum-especially at home.
Aside from that, the Jackets have shuffled up the defense pairings a little bit. These look better anyhow, with a lefty and a righty on each pair:
#CBJ head coach Rick Bowness said no changes to the skater lineup tonight vs. the Islanders. Jet Greaves starts in net.
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) March 22, 2026
They’ll keep Provorov with Fabbro and Mateychuk with Gudbranson, as they switched to last night. Gives them a lefty and righty on each pair.
Three Keys to Success
1. Blue Jackets hockey for the full 60. This is one of those games that is going to come down to mistakes. The Blue Jackets cannot mis-manage the puck, so smart decisions are vital. And, staying within that forecheck/backcheck system instilled by Bowness is massive.
2. Pressure is on them, leave no hope. The Islanders fans are restless. Their team is sputtering in its stretch run, and they are the ones who have points to make up now. The Jackets should look to get on the board early in this one and take the home crowd out of this one.
3. Make life miserable on the kid. Hit Matthew Schaefer every time he touches the puck. We have seen the emotional response their team has when he's pushed around, and that often takes them off of their game. Do that. Cleanly and within the rulebook, of course.
This is the fourth and final matchup between these teams this season. The Jackets are 1-1-1 in the first three, so a win here would give them the season series-and more breathing room in their playoff spot.
Puck drop is scheduled for just after 7:00 Eastern time for this one. The eyes of the hockey world will be on the Blue Jackets and Islanders tonight. Don't be the one who misses it. Let's go Jackets!