Blue Jackets Surge Under Bowness, But Post-Olympic Stretch Will Define Their Season
The Columbus Blue Jackets have flipped the script in dramatic fashion. Since making a coaching change and bringing in Rick Bowness behind the bench, they’ve rattled off a scorching 10-1 run - a turnaround that’s not just impressive, but potentially season-defining.
Before Bowness took over, Columbus was dead last in the Eastern Conference and staring at a 7-point gap between themselves and a playoff spot. Fast forward to now, and they’ve climbed to 9th in the East, just 4 points shy of postseason position. That’s a serious shift in momentum - the kind that can breathe life into a locker room and reignite belief across the roster.
But here’s the thing about momentum: it’s fragile. And with the Olympic break hitting right in the middle of their hottest stretch of hockey this season, the Blue Jackets face a critical challenge - can they pick up where they left off?
Post-Break Pressure: Two Games, Eight Crucial Points
Columbus has 26 games left on the schedule, and while every one of them matters, the first two after the Olympic break are especially pivotal. They’re not just games - they’re head-to-head matchups against the very teams the Jackets are chasing.
First up: a road tilt against the Boston Bruins. The Bruins currently hold the second and final Wild Card spot in the East - the exact position Columbus is gunning for.
The Jackets trail Boston by four points, which makes this a classic four-point game. A regulation win doesn’t just bring Columbus two points closer - it also denies Boston any points, tightening the race in a big way.
Flip that result, though, and the Bruins stretch their lead to six points, making the climb even steeper for the Jackets.
Then comes a home game against the New York Islanders, who sit third in the Metropolitan Division - and yep, you guessed it, another team Columbus trails by four points. Just like with Boston, this is another four-point swing opportunity.
Win in regulation, and the Jackets close the gap. Lose, and the Isles pull further ahead.
So while it might look like four points are on the line across these two games, the reality is closer to eight. That’s the kind of math that makes all the difference in a playoff chase this tight.
The Standings Don’t Wait for Anyone
Even with their 11-1 heater, the Blue Jackets have only made up three points in the standings since January 12. That’s not a knock on their effort - it’s a reflection of just how tough it is to gain ground in a conference where everyone’s winning.
The teams Columbus is battling for playoff spots aren’t just treading water - they’re banking points, too. And that’s what makes these head-to-heads so critical. It’s not enough to win - you’ve got to win against the right teams.
The Road Ahead
There are still 24 games to go after this two-game post-break gauntlet. And yes, dropping one or both of those contests wouldn’t mathematically eliminate Columbus. But if they want to control their own destiny - if they want to be more than just a hot team that made it interesting - then beating Boston and New York in regulation is the path forward.
This is where the playoff push gets real. The Blue Jackets have already shown they can turn things around. Now it’s about sustaining it - and seizing the moments that matter most.
The break gave them a breather. Now it’s time to get back to work.