The Columbus Blue Jackets are starting to look like a team finding its identity-and maybe even a little swagger-after a 5-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday night. That’s three straight victories for a club that’s suddenly climbing the Eastern Conference standings, leapfrogging four teams in the process.
At 25-20-7 (57 points), the Jackets are now tied for 10th in the East. They’re still chasing the wild card-eight points back-but what once felt like a long shot is starting to look plausible, especially with the way they’re playing right now.
Let’s break down what stood out in this one: a win built on suffocating defense, some late-game turbulence, and a renewed sense of offensive confidence.
1. The Jackets owned the defensive zone early-and it showed.
For the first 40 minutes, the Blue Jackets put on a clinic in defensive structure. The Flyers couldn’t get anything going offensively.
In fact, they didn’t register their first shot on goal until more than eight minutes into the first period-a Matvei Michkov breakaway that was more of a solo effort than a team-generated chance. By then, Columbus was already on the board, courtesy of Charlie Coyle, who scored in his 1,000th NHL game.
Talk about a moment.
The Flyers did manage to tie it up later in the period, thanks to Travis Konecny, but even that goal came off a bit of a broken play. Sean Monahan lost an edge, leaving Konecny with a clean look from the slot. Sometimes the ice just tilts the wrong way.
But that was one of the few breakdowns in what was otherwise a lockdown performance from Columbus. The Jackets allowed just 13 shots through two periods.
That’s not just good-it’s the kind of defensive effort that wins games in this league. Players were sticking to their assignments, boxing out in front of the net, and sacrificing the body to block shots.
It’s clear this team is buying into what Rick Bowness is preaching on the back end.
**2. Third-period nerves?
Still a thing. **
As solid as the Jackets were through 40 minutes, the third period brought back some familiar anxiety. Up 3-1 and in control, they had a chance to put the game away early in the final frame. Adam Fantilli nearly did just that, only to be robbed by Dan Vladar in what might go down as one of the saves of the season.
That save seemed to flip the momentum. The Flyers pushed back, and Columbus started to retreat-both literally and figuratively.
The aggressive puck pressure that defined their first two periods gave way to passive play in the defensive zone. And against a team like Philly, that’s a dangerous game.
Konecny took full advantage. He scored his second of the night just over four minutes into the third, cutting the lead to one.
Then, with less than five minutes to play, he completed the hat trick, tying the game 3-3. Both goals came off breakdowns in coverage-guys puck-watching instead of staying with their man.
On the first, Konecny had a free lane right down the middle. On the second, Cole Sillinger got caught staring, and Konecny slipped behind him to the net.
It’s easy to point fingers at the goalie in moments like that, but Elvis Merzlikins wasn’t the issue here. He made the saves he could. These were lapses in front of him-something this team has to clean up if they want to stay in the playoff hunt.
3. The offense is starting to believe again.
Here’s the thing that might be most encouraging for Columbus fans: the offense is coming alive. Over the last two games, the Jackets have scored 13 goals (including two empty-netters). And it’s not just about the numbers-it’s about how they’re getting them.
Under Bowness, there’s been a noticeable shift in mentality. The message has been simple: stop overthinking and shoot the puck. That might sound basic, but for a team that’s struggled to finish, it’s been a game-changer.
You can see the difference. Players are making quicker decisions.
They’re not forcing the extra pass or looking for the perfect play. They’re getting pucks on net and trusting their instincts.
That confidence is contagious-and it’s showing up on the scoreboard.
Last night’s game-winner was a perfect example. After giving up the tying goal, the Jackets didn’t fold.
They got right back to work and leaned on their veterans to make a smart, patient play in the offensive zone. It wasn’t flashy-it was effective.
And it sealed another win.
The bigger picture
This team is starting to look like a group that believes in itself again. The defense is more structured, the offense is more decisive, and the results are starting to follow. There’s still work to be done-especially in closing out games-but the foundation is being laid.
The key moving forward? Consistency.
The Jackets can’t afford to be a two-period team. If they want to stay in the playoff conversation, they’ll need to bring that same energy and execution for all 60 minutes.
But for now, they’ve won three straight and are playing some of their best hockey of the season. If they keep this up, they might just make things interesting in the East.