We're still trying to catch our breath here at Union and Blue. We lost it last night when the Blue Jackets went down to the wire against the Red Wings, before eventually winning the game in the fifth round of the shootout.
After having their offense go completely dormant for two full weeks, head coach Rick Bowness took a gamble and shuffled his lines ahead of last night's game in Detroit. It paid off, as the team rallied from a late third period deficit, tying the game with just 17 seconds left.
It took a full team effort to get that done. Sean Monahan won the faceoff. Kirill Marchenko stepped in and made the smart play out to Zach Werenski. Zach then one-touch passed the puck over to Adam Fantilli, who confidently blasted the puck past John Gibson to tie it up.
If it feels like we have been waiting forever for that goal, it's because we have. The Jackets had just 14 goals in their previous 18 games. Things had gotten so bleak, that the team went more than two full games without a goal from a forward.
Last night, when they needed someone to step up and provide some offense, their best players showed up. Zach Werenski had a Norris Trophy-defining kind of game. Adam Fantilli netted the big tying goal late, earning them a crucial point. Then, Kent Johnson and Charlie Coyle showed up in the shootout, with Werenski ultimately scoring the goal to earn that critical second point.
However, lets hold up for just one second. As we mentioned yesterday, it's not just about this season. We have been waiting for this kind of game from this team for years. It is somewhat fitting that this game happened on a night that pushed them beyond a rare plateau in franchise history.
Last night's win gave the Blue Jackets 90 points and kept their playoff hopes alive.
The big comeback victory in Detroit gave the Blue Jackets 90 points. This is a mark they have only met or exceeded five other times in franchise history. In every single one of those preceding occurrences, they have made the playoffs.
In a typical season, they would probably be really close to locking down a playoff spot right now. Last year, the cutoff line was 91 points. Unfortunately, the Eastern Conference has turned into an absolute juggernaut from top to bottom this season, so there is still a lot of work to be done.
The Jackets have four games remaining on their schedule. Their next two are on the road, and in extremely difficult environments. Tomorrow night they are in Buffalo, taking on a Sabres team that already clinched a playoff spot. They have 47 wins and 102 points heading into their game tonight, in Manhattan against the Rangers.
Then, the Jackets will face the Canadiens in Montreal on Saturday night. The Habs have also clinched a playoff spot, and are tied with the Sabres in points, but with one fewer win on the season.
After those stops, the Jackets will return home for the final two games of the season. First, they face the second half of a back-to-back, hosting the Boston Bruins, who are at 96 points and similarly fighting for their playoff lives (though, they have some cushion).
Then, the final game of the regular season comes next Tuesday against the Washington Capitals in what may be the last game of Alex Ovechkin's Hall of Fame career. That should be fun.
Simply put, there are no easy games left on the schedule-and they probably need to win at least 3 of them to have a realistic shot at the playoffs. Even then, they will need some other teams to help them out. It can be done, but it starts with taking care of their own business. Last night, we saw the formula for success. They have to stick with it.
The 90 point plateau is an exciting landmark for this team. Now, let's cheer them on and hope for 98 points and a shot in the playoffs.