Blue Jackets Surge into Olympic Break Week with Playoff Dreams Alive
The Columbus Blue Jackets are heading into a pivotal stretch of their season, with just two games standing between them and the NHL’s Olympic break. And make no mistake - the stakes couldn’t be higher.
The “Bowness Bump” Is Real
Since Rick Bowness stepped behind the bench in mid-January, the Blue Jackets have completely flipped the script. Winners of eight of their last nine, Columbus has gone from a team teetering on the edge of irrelevance to a legitimate playoff threat. That kind of turnaround doesn’t happen by accident.
Bowness has brought a steadying presence and a clear structure, and the players have responded. The defensive lapses that plagued this team earlier in the season have tightened up, and the offense is clicking with new life.
The result? Columbus now sits just six points back of the Buffalo Sabres for a playoff spot - well within striking distance.
This week’s back-to-back against the New Jersey Devils and the Chicago Blackhawks is more than just a pair of regular-season games. It’s a litmus test. Sweep the set, and the Blue Jackets head into the Olympic break with confidence, cohesion, and momentum - the kind that could force the front office to rethink any plans of selling at the trade deadline.
Charlie Coyle: Trade Chip or Playoff Catalyst?
One of the biggest questions looming over Columbus right now is what to do with Charlie Coyle.
The veteran center is playing some of his best hockey of the season - and maybe even his career. His recent hat trick against the Blackhawks wasn’t just a personal milestone; it was a statement. Coyle’s playing with pace, poise, and purpose, and he’s become a key contributor down the middle for a team suddenly surging.
But here’s the catch: Coyle is a pending unrestricted free agent. That makes him a prime candidate for trade talks, especially with contenders always looking to bolster center depth for a playoff run.
The Blue Jackets, though, aren’t in the same place they were a few weeks ago. This team is winning.
And if that continues through this week, management has a real decision to make - cash in on Coyle’s value now, or keep him in the fold for a potential postseason push.
It's the classic deadline dilemma: future assets vs. current opportunity. And Coyle’s play is making that choice harder by the game.
Empty the Tank, Then Hit Pause
With the NHL set to pause from Feb. 6 to Feb. 24 for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, this week represents the final sprint before a much-needed breather. But for the Blue Jackets, it’s also a defining moment.
Tuesday’s road tilt against the Devils is a crucial Metropolitan Division matchup - the kind of game that swings standings and stirs up rivalries. Then, less than 24 hours later, they’ll return home to face the Blackhawks in what will be their final game before the break.
Two games. Two opportunities. And potentially, two very different paths depending on how they perform.
Win both, and Columbus enters the Olympic break buzzing - a team on the rise, full of belief, and with a locker room that knows it can hang with anyone. Drop them, and the momentum stalls.
The playoff dream dims. And the trade deadline calculus shifts back toward selling.
This Week’s Schedule: Blue Jackets at a Glance
- Tuesday, Feb. 3 - 7:00 PM ET at New Jersey Devils (Prudential Center) *A critical division clash with playoff implications.
- Wednesday, Feb. 4 - 7:00 PM ET vs. Chicago Blackhawks (Nationwide Arena) *Final game before the Olympic break - and possibly a tone-setter for the rest of the season. *
- Friday, Feb. 6 and beyond *Olympic Break begins - NHL action resumes Feb.
For a team that looked like it might be headed for another lost season, the Blue Jackets have suddenly found themselves in the thick of the playoff race. And with just two games left before the league hits pause, they’ve got a golden opportunity to keep that fire burning.
Now it’s just a matter of how hard they want to push - and how far this momentum can carry them.