At the end of another eventful game March 9 at Nationwide Arena, the Blue Jackets tacked another point onto their season total in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Kings.
More: Columbus Blue Jackets lose to Los Angeles Kings in OT: Replay
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Despite feeling the sting of letting an extra point slip in 3-on-3 OT for a second straight game on home ice, the points they added in each loss still matter. The Blue Jackets are still in the thick of things for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with 19 games remaining, and there’s no time to sulk with the second half of a back-to-back to play March 10 at the Tampa Bay Lightning.
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CBJ take on LA Kings in afternoon game at Nationwide Arena, see photos
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Jet Greaves (73) takes the ice for the NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on March 9, 2026.
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CBJ take on LA Kings in afternoon game at Nationwide Arena, see photos
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Jet Greaves (73) takes the ice for the NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on March 9, 2026.
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CBJ take on LA Kings in afternoon game at Nationwide Arena, see photos
Officials review a high sticking call on Los Angeles Kings right wing Quinton Byfield (55) on the opening faceoff of the first period of the NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on March 9, 2026.
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CBJ take on LA Kings in afternoon game at Nationwide Arena, see photos
Los Angeles Kings goaltender Anton Forsberg (31) saves a shot from Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Kirill Marchenko (86) during the first period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on March 9, 2026.
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CBJ take on LA Kings in afternoon game at Nationwide Arena, see photos
Los Angeles Kings defenseman Joel Edmundson (6) hits Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Conor Garland (83) during the first period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on March 9, 2026.
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CBJ take on LA Kings in afternoon game at Nationwide Arena, see photos
Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli (19) brings the puck up ice past Los Angeles Kings defenseman Cody Ceci (5) during the first period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on March 9, 2026.
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CBJ take on LA Kings in afternoon game at Nationwide Arena, see photos
Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Conor Garland (83) passes around Los Angeles Kings defenseman Cody Ceci (5) during the first period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on March 9, 2026.
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CBJ take on LA Kings in afternoon game at Nationwide Arena, see photos
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Jet Greaves (73) makes a save during the first period of the NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on March 9, 2026.
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CBJ take on LA Kings in afternoon game at Nationwide Arena, see photos
Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Kirill Marchenko (86) skates up ice past Los Angeles Kings right wing Jared Wright (53) during the first period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on March 9, 2026.
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CBJ take on LA Kings in afternoon game at Nationwide Arena, see photos
Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Miles Wood (11) skates past Los Angeles Kings defenseman Cody Ceci (5) during the first period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on March 9, 2026.
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CBJ take on LA Kings in afternoon game at Nationwide Arena, see photos
Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Conor Garland (83) lines up for a faceoff during the first period of the NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on March 9, 2026.
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CBJ take on LA Kings in afternoon game at Nationwide Arena, see photos
Teammates celebrate a goal by Los Angeles Kings right wing Corey Perry (10) during the first period of the NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on March 9, 2026.
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CBJ take on LA Kings in afternoon game at Nationwide Arena, see photos
Los Angeles Kings right wing Corey Perry (10) celebrates a goal during the first period of the NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on March 9, 2026.
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CBJ take on LA Kings in afternoon game at Nationwide Arena, see photos
Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Conor Garland (83) celebrates a goal, his first as a Blue Jacket, during the first period of the NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on March 9, 2026.
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CBJ take on LA Kings in afternoon game at Nationwide Arena, see photos
Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Conor Garland (83) celebrates a goal, his first as a Blue Jacket, wiht defenseman Ivan Provorov (9) during the first period of the NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on March 9, 2026.
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CBJ take on LA Kings in afternoon game at Nationwide Arena, see photos
Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Kirill Marchenko (86) and Los Angeles Kings defenseman Mikey Anderson (44) chase down a puck during the first period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on March 9, 2026.
The Boston Bruins are two points ahead for the second of two wild-card spots and the New York Islanders are three points up for third in the Metropolitan Division. Asked whether the Blue Jackets’ situation is a glass half-full or half-empty, coach Rick Bowness didn’t hesitate to answer.
“Half-full, man, we’re in the hunt,” he said. “We’re right there. … I believe in these guys and we’re going to stay in that hunt right to the bitter end.”
Here are five takeaways from another win that got away:
Columbus Blue Jackets center Kent Johnson (91) reacts to a goal by Los Angeles Kings defenseman Brian Dumoulin (2) during the third period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on March 9, 2026. The Blue Jackets lost 5-4 in overtime.
Prior to Bowness taking over as the Blue Jackets’ head coach Jan. 12, former coach Dean Evason seemed to make some peculiar decisions regarding 3-on-3 overtime periods.
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Rather than sending his top offensive weapons into the game at the same time, Evason leaned on defensive-minded players to help push games to shootouts. The Jackets’ loss to the Kings shows why Evason employed that strategy.
In short, Columbus has struggled to gain and keep possession during 3-on-3 play.
After finally gaining possession against the Kings, defenseman Ivan Provorov gave it right back by chipping the puck into the neutral zone. Adrian Kempe scored seconds later, dropping the Blue Jackets to 5-9 in games decided in OT.
They’re 5-1 in shootouts.
“We had control of the puck [before giving it back],” Bowness said. “That’s the biggest thing in the last two overtimes. We haven’t controlled the puck … at all.”
Teammates celebrate a goal by Los Angeles Kings left wing Artemi Panarin (10) during the first period of the NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on March 9, 2026.
One of Bowness’ priorities after taking over as coach was to reduce the number of goals the Blue Jackets give up. He emphasized better defensive play in front of the net and in surrounding areas where most goals are generated. It worked during his first 11 games going into the NHL’s Olympic break. Since then, they have allowed four or more goals in five of seven games.
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“If we’re scoring four goals, we should be winning games,” Bowness said. “Now we give up five in back-to-back (games), that’s disappointing. That’s not who we are.”
The Jackets are also playing a tough slate of opponents while facing what Money Puck assesses to be the NHL’s second-toughest remaining schedule.
Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Conor Garland (83) lines up for a faceoff during the first period of the NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on March 9, 2026.
Conor Garland sizzling to start Columbus Blue Jackets career
It didn’t take Conor Garland long to show the Blue Jackets what he can provide to the lineup.
In two games since a March 6 trade brought him to Columbus, he has shown nimble skating, powerful bursts of speed and impressive hand-eye coordination. Garland scored twice against the Kings.
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“That’s how he plays,” Bowness said. “He’s a good fit for us. He’s on the puck. He stops. He starts. He doesn’t go for big loops. He’s not afraid of the battles. He’s going to win his share. [He’s] not the biggest, but he’s got enough power in his legs. It’s his tenacity that I really like. He’s a good fit.”
Los Angeles Kings goaltender Anton Forsberg (31) saves a shot from Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Kirill Marchenko (86) during the first period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on March 9, 2026.
Columbus Blue Jackets pay for not scoring on extended power play
Right off the opening draw, the Blue Jackets got a four-minute power play when Kings forward Quinton Byfield drew blood from Mason Marchment’s face with a high stick.
The Jackets were awarded four minutes of power-play time but couldn’t get the puck past Anton Forsberg, despite getting off seven shots. Not taking an early lead allowed the Kings to gain momentum that paid off when they scored the game’s first two goals later in the first period.
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“[Forsberg] was outstanding,” Bowness said. “That’s the best [our] power play has looked, in terms of creating quality [scoring] chances, not just shots on net but quality chances, and he was ready for that challenge. That kept them in the game.”
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson injured
The Blue Jackets played the final two periods by mixing and matching five defensemen following an upper-body injury that knocked Erik Gudbranson out of the game late in the first period.
Gudbranson sustained the injury on a hit by former Blue Jackets star Artemi Panarin. Bowness said he won’t make the upcoming three-game road trip to Tampa Bay, South Florida and Philadelphia. Look for either Egor Zamula or Jake Christiansen to skate in Gudbranson’s spot on the third defensive pairing.
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Blue Jackets remaining schedule
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Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com and @BrianHedger.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets lose to LA. Kings in overtime: 5 takeaways