{"id":509498,"date":"2026-03-18T12:37:37","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T12:37:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/509498\/"},"modified":"2026-03-18T12:37:37","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T12:37:37","slug":"columbus-blue-jackets-are-playing-like-a-playoff-team-but-face-a-tough-road","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/509498\/","title":{"rendered":"Columbus Blue Jackets are playing like a playoff team but face a tough road"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Blue Jackets<\/a> look like a playoff team, sound like a playoff team and now play with the confidence of a Stanley Cup contender.<\/p>\n

They\u2019ve shown it while going 6-0-4 during a season-long 10-game points streak<\/a>, including a 5-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes<\/a> on March 17 at Nationwide Arena, and it feels like the Blue Jackets (35-21-11) have officially put the NHL on notice.<\/p>\n

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More Blue Jackets news: Columbus Blue Jackets stun Carolina Hurricanes with 5-1 rout: replay<\/a><\/p>\n

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See highlights from Columbus Blue Jackets vs Carolina Hurricanes game<\/p>\n

The Columbus Blue Jackets prepare their shamrock headbands prior to the NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on March 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

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The Columbus Blue Jackets prepare their shamrock headbands prior to the NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on March 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

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Fans in St. Paddy’s Day garb await the NHL hockey game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Carolina Hurricanes at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on March 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

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Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Mathieu Olivier (24) passes around defenseman Zach Werenski (8) during the first period of the NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on March 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

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Fans cheer during the first period of the NHL hockey game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Carolina Hurricanes at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on March 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

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Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (8) is examined after taking a high stick during the first period of the NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on March 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

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Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Mason Marchment (17) scores a goal during the first period of the NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on March 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

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Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli (19) congratulates left wing Mason Marchment (17) after a goal during the first period of the NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on March 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

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Teammates celebrate a goal by Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Mason Marchment (17) during the first period of the NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on March 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

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See highlights from Columbus Blue Jackets vs Carolina Hurricanes game<\/p>\n

Fans celebrate a Columbus Blue Jackets goal during the first period of the NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on March 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

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Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Kirill Marchenko (86) collides with Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker during the first period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on March 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

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Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Brandon Bussi (32) stops a shot from Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Mason Marchment (17) during the first period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on March 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

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Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Conor Garland (83) passes over Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jalen Chatfield (5) during the first period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on March 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

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See highlights from Columbus Blue Jackets vs Carolina Hurricanes game<\/p>\n

Columbus Blue Jackets fans cheer during the first period of the NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on March 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

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See highlights from Columbus Blue Jackets vs Carolina Hurricanes game<\/p>\n

Columbus Blue Jackets fans wear St. Paddy’s Day garb during the first period of the NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on March 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

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Columbus Blue Jackets center Cole Sillinger (4) skates up ice during the first period of the NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on March 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

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Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Conor Garland (83) reaches for the puck during the first period of the NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on March 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know we\u2019re a playoff team,\u201d forward Mathieu Olivier<\/a> said, shaking his head in disbelief that they’re still outside the bubble. \u201cThis Eastern Conference situation is making it as hard as anybody will have it. As I understand it, the line to make the playoffs is going to be probably one of the highest in history. So, it just comes back to our job, to keep winning and keep stringing these games (together).\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s all they can do.<\/p>\n

The four teams clinging to postseason spots just ahead of them<\/a> keep holding off the surging Jackets, whom analytic site MoneyPuck<\/a> gives a 70.1% chance of making it with 15 games left. That site also predicts the East’s postseason cutoff to be 97 points, which would be six higher than last season.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe way we\u2019re playing, our process right now is really good, so that\u2019s a good thing,\u201d Olivier said. \u201cThere\u2019s some nights we might not get the results, but the way we\u2019re playing is really good for our group right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

The good news for the Blue Jackets is they have a few games left against two teams they\u2019re chasing, the Boston Bruins and New York Islanders. The Bruins (82 points) avoided giving up the East\u2019s first wild card by adding an overtime point March 17 in Montreal, while the Islanders (83 points) won in Toronto to stay two points ahead for third in the Metropolitan Division.<\/p>\n

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Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski salutes fans following a win over the Hurricanes on March 17.<\/p>\n

The Blue Jackets also trail the Detroit Red Wings by one point for the second wild card and need three points to pass the Pittsburgh Penguins for second in the division. All four teams, however, continue to win or tack on points in overtime\/shootouts at the same time the Blue Jackets are doing the same things.<\/p>\n

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It might go right to the end again, similar to last season\u2019s race in the East that left Columbus two points short.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a very confident group,\u201d Blue Jackets coach Rick Bowness said. \u201cThere\u2019s great leadership in that (locker) room. The confidence comes from knowing how good we can be, and that when we\u2019re on top of our game, we can beat anybody.\u201d<\/p>\n

Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger<\/a> can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com<\/a> and @BrianHedger.bsky.social<\/a><\/p>\n

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets still outside playoffs despite boosting odds<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Blue Jackets look like a playoff team, sound like a playoff team and now play with the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":509499,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[5108],"tags":[3644,5180,95,29,897,230,5179,93,5,6813,264,159,4,100,28506,66],"class_list":{"0":"post-509498","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-columbus-blue-jackets","8":"tag-blue-jackets","9":"tag-bluejackets","10":"tag-boston-bruins","11":"tag-carolina-hurricanes","12":"tag-columbus","13":"tag-columbus-blue-jackets","14":"tag-columbusbluejackets","15":"tag-detroit-red-wings","16":"tag-hockey","17":"tag-mathieu-olivier","18":"tag-montreal","19":"tag-new-york-islanders","20":"tag-nhl","21":"tag-pittsburgh-penguins","22":"tag-playoff-team","23":"tag-toronto"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nhl\/116250219163399647","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/509498","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=509498"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/509498\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/509499"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=509498"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=509498"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=509498"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}