By The Numbers: Third-Period Failures Costing Them Chance To Make Playoffs

After 36 games, the main story of the 2023-24 Blue Jackets season has to be the team's inability to close out games. 

The Blue Jackets have either been tied or ahead after the second period in 22 games this season, posting an underwhelming 10-6-6 record. Breaking it down more, they are 9-1-4 when leading after two periods and 1-5-2 when tied after 40 minutes. 

Blue Jackets' late-game struggles, chart by @CobyMaeir

In six losses, they've conceded eight game-tying or game-winning goals in the final five minutes of regulation, including twice in the final minute. They've allowed six goals at five-on-six, which is second-most in the league, with three of those goals coming in losses. 

Currently at 11-18-7 and ninth in the Eastern Conference wild-card standings based on points, imagine if the Blue Jackets had won both of the games they lost when allowing a tying goal in the last minute and won the games against Carolina and Los Angeles where they blew multi-goal third-period leads? That's eight more points, which would put them fifth in the wild-card race. 

While the Blue Jackets have a better record through 36 games this season than last (11-23-2), it feels like they should be even better this season because they've played well in almost all of their games, at least until the third period.

Despite being tied for the league's eighth-best first-period goal differential at +7 and tied for 10th in second-period goal differential at +6, Columbus posts the league's worst third-period goal differential at -29. 

The Blue Jackets have been outshot in every period this season, including overtime, but have the league's second-worst third-period shot differential at -93. 

This is one of those issues that's going to be a problem until it's not. But when the Blue Jackets overcome this issue, they'll be a competitive squad. 

It's just about how long it'll take for them to get there.