The Chase is your morning primer on where the Blue Jackets stand in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs race. What happened, what's next, and who to cheer for.
Welp.
The Blue Jackets took a big one on the chin last night in New York. In falling to the Islanders, 2-0, the Jackets fell to 3–8 since the Feb. 25 trade deadline, having been shutout in half of their last six games.
Columbus outshot the Islanders 31-20 and dominated stretches for most of the second and third periods, but could not solve New York goaltender Thomas Greiss aside from the three posts the Jackets hit on the night.
And yet the Blue Jackets remain in wild card position, holding down the WC2 spot, with 13 games remaining.
| GP | GR | W | L | OT | PTS | ROW | STRK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| METROPOLITAN | |||||||||
| WASHINGTON CAPITALS | 69 | 13 | 41 | 21 | 7 | 89 | 37 | W7 | 9–1–0 |
| NY ISLANDERS | 69 | 13 | 40 | 22 | 7 | 87 | 36 | W1 | 5–4–1 |
| CAROLINA HURRICANES | 69 | 13 | 38 | 24 | 7 | 83 | 37 | W2 | 7–2–1 |
| ATLANTIC | |||||||||
| x-TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING | 70 | 12 | 53 | 13 | 4 | 110 | 47 | W2 | 8–2–0 |
| BOSTON BRUINS | 69 | 13 | 42 | 18 | 9 | 93 | 40 | L1 | 8–1–1 |
| TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS | 69 | 13 | 42 | 22 | 5 | 89 | 42 | L1 | 6–3–1 |
| WILD CARD | |||||||||
| PITTSBURGH PENGUINS | 69 | 13 | 37 | 23 | 9 | 83 | 36 | W1 | 6–2–2 |
| COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS | 69 | 13 | 38 | 28 | 3 | 79 | 37 | L1 | 5–5–0 |
| MONTREAL CANADIENS | 69 | 13 | 36 | 26 | 7 | 79 | 34 | L2 | 5–5–0 |
| PHILADELPHIA FLYERS | 69 | 13 | 34 | 27 | 8 | 76 | 32 | W2 | 6–3–1 |
With Carolina topping the Avs, 3-0, and the Flyers edging Ottawa in overtime, 3-2, last night, matters are coalescing into a five-team race for two Eastern Conference wild card positions.
The Canes and Penguins have 83 points, while the Jackets are four back at 79. Montreal also has 79 points, but are behind Columbus due to the ROW tiebreaker. The Flyers, surging in the last month, are just three points back of the Blue Jackets and Canadiens.
In a universe in which the 2019 Tampa Bay Lightning exist, you really, really want to try to avoid that second wild card spot.
We're back at it tonight, with several games pivotal to the playoff race in the east, including another tough outing for the Jackets.
| Home | Away | Who to Cheer for |
|---|---|---|
| COLUMBUS (38–28–3, 79p) | BOSTON (42–18–9, 93p) | The boys in blue. |
| PITTSBURGH (37–23–9, 83p) | WASHINGTON (41–21–7, 89p) | Caps. |
| MONTREAL (36–26–7, 79p) | DETROIT (24–35–10, 58p) | We're clutching an octopus if that tells you anything. |
The Blue Jackets need points, plain and simple.
Then, Washington needs to dump the Pens at home, and the Red Wings have to get it done in Montreal.
Today's stress ball: Ever see a shorthanded three-on-one?
