The Blue Jackets have been on a tear since parting ways with Dean Evason and hiring Rick Bowness. The team is 10-1 under the new bench boss and they are playing great hockey.
While the Olympic break is good for resting and getting healthy, it may have come at a bad time for this team. They were riding some great momentum. The key for the team will be to rekindle that momentum and keep it going down the stretch run.
When Bowness was hired, the team sat in last place in the Eastern Conference and were 7 points out of a playoff spot. Their hot streak has helped them climb the standings, as they now sit in 9th place in the Eastern Conference and are 4 points out of a playoff spot.
Despite their winning ways, they still have ground to make up to get either a wildcard spot or one of the top 3 spots in the Metropolitan Division.
The team has 26 games remaining. When you are fighting for a playoff spot, every one of those games is important. But the first 2 games after the Olympic Break may be the most important.
Big games against teams they can catch.
In the first game back, the Blue Jackets play at the Boston Bruins. The Bruins currently hold the 2nd and final wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference. The Blue Jackets currently trail the Bruins by 4 points.
A regulation win against the Bruins would be 2 points for the CBJ and no points for the Bruins. On the flip side, a regulation loss to the Bruins would mean that the Bruins extend their lead to 6 points and the Blue Jackets gain no ground.
On paper, each game is worth 2 points in the standings. However, this game is really worth 4 points. It’s about gaining 2 points for the Jackets and keeping 2 possible points from the Bruins.
In the second game back, the Blue Jackets host the New York Islanders. The Islanders currently hold the 3rd spot in the Metropolitan Division. Similar to the Bruins, the Blue Jackets trail the Islanders by 4 points. And, similar to the game against the Bruins, this is a 4-point game. It’s all about 2 points for the Jackets and no points for the Islanders. It’s that simple.
While it may only appear as though 4 points are on the line in the first 2 games, there are really 8 points on the line. It is imperative that the Blue Jackets beat both the Bruins and Islanders in regulation. Doing so could put them in the driver’s seat in terms of securing a playoff spot.
Yes, there are 24 other games remaining in addition to these 2 and losing them isn’t the end of the world. However, these 2 games really are about making up ground. Despite their 11-1 run, the Blue Jackets only made up 3 points in the overall standings (they were 7 points out on 1/12/26 and are now 4 points out on 2/13/26).
The teams competing with the CBJ for playoff contention are winning too. It just goes to show how difficult it is to make up ground in the standings when you’re going up against other good teams.
Enjoy the Olympic break 5th Line. The intensity will ratchet back up in less than 2 weeks.