This gets more difficult every year, thankfully.
As the Blue Jackets have become somewhat of a playoff mainstay over the past few years, they've certainly scored their fair share of great goals. I decided to take my best stab at determining the top ten.
Let's get started with #10.
10. R.J. Umberger @ Detroit Red Wings (Game 1, ECQF)
April 16th, 2009
In Game 1 against the Red Wings, R.J. Umberger scored the first playoff goal in franchise history with a pretty backhand off of a nice feed from Jakub Voracek.
9. Artemi Panarin @ Washington Capitals (Game 3, ECQF)
April 17th, 2018
Talk about tic-tac-toe. Panarin and Cam Atkinson found themselves on a 2-on-1 rush, and they took advantage of it with crisp passing and a great finish from the Breadman.
8. David Savard @ Tampa Bay Lightning (Game 1, ECQF)
April 10th, 2019
Savard absolutely embarrassed Norris Trophy winner Victor Hedman with a toe-drag, then went top shelf against Andrei Vasilevskiy to pull the Blue Jackets within one goal against the Lightning.
7. Nick Foligno vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (Game 4, ECQF)
April 23rd, 2014
Foligno's overtime goal gave the Blue Jackets their first home playoff win. Should Fleury have done better on a wrister from practically the blue line? Probably. Are we glad he didn't? You bet.
6. Matt Calvert @ Pittsburgh Penguins (Game 2, ECQF)
April 19th, 2014
While it certainly wasn't the prettiest of finishes, Calvert's goal in double overtime gave the Blue Jackets their first playoff win and knotted the series at one apiece.
5. Artemi Panarin @ Tampa Bay Lightning (Game 2, ECQF)
April 12th, 2019
Checking in at #5, it's Panarin with another tic-tac-toe finish, thanks to excellent passing between Oliver Bjorkstrand and Matt Duchene. Panarin's goal made it 5-1, Columbus.
4. Brandon Dubinsky vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (Game 4, ECQF)
April 23rd, 2014
Dubinsky's game-tying goal blew the roof off of Nationwide Arena, and it wouldn't have been possible without Fleury misplaying the puck behind the net. Ryan Johansen threw the puck out blindly, and Dubinsky was able to pick his spot.
3. Artemi Panarin @ Washington Capitals (Game 1, ECQF)
April 12th, 2018
Panarin's overtime winner game the Blue Jackets a leg up in their series against the Capitals, and it was an absolute beauty. He took a pass in the neutral zone, gathered up speed, went wide, and released an unstoppable snipe.
2. Artemi Panarin @ Boston Bruins (Game 2, ECSF)
This is one of those goals where even after watching a replay it's difficult to see how it went in. Panarin had an absolutely tiny angle for a shot, and he still was able to bury the puck.
1. Seth Jones @ Tampa Bay Lightning (Game 1, ECQF)
April 10th, 2019
"Columbus has climbed that mountain and now they're on the top!"
Seth Jones's goal to give the Blue Jackets a 4-3 lead after being down 3-0 to the President's Trophy winners comes in at #1, and there's no doubt in my mind this was the single biggest goal in franchise history. It was the perfect exclamation point to a game that had Blue Jackets fans feel despair, hope, and euphoria.
Of course, there are other important, meaningful, and beautiful playoff goals that the Blue Jackets have scored. If any of your favorite goals didn't make the cut, let me know!
