The Columbus Blue Jackets control their own destiny.
That's a fact — but it's also a fact for the half-dozen other teams pushing for a playoff spot in one of the NHL's most diabolic playoff races in recent memory.
Entering Friday, the Blue Jackets have 70 points and are the owners of the second and final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. They have that via a tiebreaker with the New York Rangers, having played one fewer game than the team that calls Madison Square Garden home.
But one point behind them: the Montreal Canadiens, who the Blue Jackets don't have a games played advantage over. One point behind Montreal? Both the Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins. A moment to breathe: Columbus has two games in hand over the Bruins.
#CBJ playoff chase update for Friday. Added in point percentage, extra day to the schedule, and playoff odds average.
— Ed Francis (@BlueJacketStats) March 14, 2025
It's not been a great week but wins tomorrow and Monday against Devils/Rangers and everything is back on track. Also: lots of tough games for other teams. pic.twitter.com/i6IB9clnmo
That's five teams within two points of one playoff spot, and that's without acknowledging the owners of the first wild card spot, the Ottawa Senators. They've won five straight and at 75 points, are in the clear —for now. Stand by.
Any of these teams, including the Blue Jackets, control their own destiny. A hot streak here or a cold streak there could (and probably will) be the difference between extra hockey and early tee times.
So where do things stand for Columbus?
The Blue Jackets are tied for the seventh-toughest strength of schedule from here out, with their opponents having an average winning percentage of .562.
Of their 17 games left on the slate, just six come against teams more than three points outside of the playoff picture:
- @ Penguins (3/21)
- @ Islanders (3/24)
- vs. Predators (4/1)
- vs. Sabres (4/10)
- @ Flyers (4/15)
- vs. Islanders ( 4/17)
Home games this Saturday and Monday against the Rangers and Devils will help paint a picture of how much help the Blue Jackets might need as the season nears its end. Saturday's game against New York is especially important.
Another big set of games: The Blue Jackets and Senators haven't played this season but will meet three times between March 29th and April 8th. It's likely that the Blue Jackets will have Sean Monahan back for at least two of those games.
One potential benefit could be a home-and-home against the Washington Capitals in the final week of the season. The Caps currently have a nine-point lead in the Eastern Conference, a lead it would take some work to undo. Particularly if Alex Ovechkin has the all-time goals record by then, is there a chance the Caps could limit minutes or rest players? Washington would have very little to play for.
But that's just Columbus' world — and it's not the only one that matters.
With just over a month left in the regular season and all kinds of scenarios on the table, here is a breakdown of what Columbus' primary competition has in front of them and how it could either help or hurt the Blue Jackets' chances at what seemed impossible when the season started:
Ottawa Senators
Points: 75
Games Left: 17
Point Pace: 94.6
Remaining Strength of Schedule: 25th (.535)
The Sens are hot, but with two of their next three coming in Toronto against the Maple Leafs and against the Colorado Avalanche, there are some regulation loss opportunities on deck. That could potentially keep both wild card spots open.
If the Blue Jackets can stick close, those three games against Ottawa will be crucial — particularly the home-and-home that starts in Canada April 6th and ends in Columbus two nights later. Just before that, Ottawa has a tough set of games against the Tampa Bay Lightning (4/3) and Florida Panthers (4/5).
New York Rangers
Points: 70
Games Left: 16
Point Pace: 87.0
Remaining Strength of Schedule: 10th (.559)
Saturday's fourth and final game between the Blue Jackets and Rangers is huge, to say the least. New York had lost four straight (including the 7-3 loss to Columbus on Sunday) before an overtime win Thursday night against the Minnestoa Wild. The Rangers are now home for four straight, but after that have just four of their remaining 11 games on home ice.
Part of the reason for the Rangers having the 10th-toughest schedule from here out is the last week of the season: at Carolina, at Florida, vs. Tampa Bay. With the Atlantic Division race tight, it's very likely that the Sunshine State teams will still have plenty to play for.
Montreal Canadiens
Points: 69
Games Left: 17
Point Pace: 87.0
Remaining Strength of Schedule: 14th (.554)
With a near-average strength of schedule from here out, the Canadiens best chance to push themselves out of the race is in March. They have eight games remaining in March, half of which are against the Panthers, Avalanche, or Hurricanes. Thee of the other games come on the road, and the eighth game is against the aforementioned red-hot Senators.
Columbus and Montreal are done playing against each other this season, with the Habs taking two of the three games.
Detroit Red Wings
Points: 68
Games Left: 17
Point Pace: 85.8
Remaining Strength of Schedule: 1st (.608)
The Red Wings have the most difficult schedule remaining based on winning percentages and it's not particularly close. Detroit had lost six straight games (all in regulation) until a Wednesday night win over the Sabres. But it's easy to see why their opposition from here out has an average point percentage of over .600. Included in their final 17 games: Carolina (twice), Vegas (twice), Florida (twice), Washington, Colorado, Tampa Bay, Dallas, and Toronto. Woof.
The Red Wings are probably not a team that the Blue Jackets have to worry about despite being just two points back, but never say never.
Boston Bruins
Points: 68
Games Left: 15
Point Pace: 83.2
Remaining Strength of Schedule: 29th (.532)
Projected to finish five points behind the Blue Jackets, the Bruins are still a team that (for now) need to be watched despite being deadline sellers. They've looked good this week and have the fourth-easiest remaining strength of schedule. The schedule ebbs and flows over the next week-plus: Tampa Bay, Buffalo, Vegas, San Jose, Los Angeles, Anaheim. If they stick around, three of their final five games come against the Sabres, Blackhawks, and Penguins — potentially easy points for a team that would, for it to matter, be playing excellent hockey at season's end.
