The Chase: Playoff Spot Still in Hand, But Future Looks Bleak for Columbus

By Chris Pennington on March 8, 2020 at 9:05 am
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Joonas Korpisalo (70) makes a save against the Calgary Flames during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome.
Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
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The Chase is your morning report on where the Blue Jackets stand in the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs race. What happened, what's next, and who to cheer for.

Despite currently being in a playoff spot, the Columbus Blue Jackets' postseason odds are getting bleaker by the day.

A loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night in a winnable game was a gut punch, and the New York Islanders and Carolina Hurricanes grabbing point(s) weren't super helpful. 

Here's where we stand on Sunday, March 8.

  GP GR W L OT PTS RW ROW STRK L10 Make Playoffs [#]
METROPOLITAN
WASHINGTON CAPITALS 68 14 41 20 7 89 31 37 W1 4-4-2 99.94%
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS 68 14 41 20 7 89 31 36 W9 9-1-0 99.95%
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS 67 15 39 22 6 84 28 36 L1 3-7-0 93.90%
ATLANTIC
BOSTON BRUINS 69 13 43 14 12 98 37 43 L1 7-3-0 100.00%
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING 68 14 43 20 5 91 35 41 W2 5-5-0 100.00%
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS 69 13 35 25 9 79 27 34 L1 4-5-1 78.50%
 WILD CARD
NEW YORK ISLANDERS 67 15 35 23 9 79 24 32 OT1 2-5-3 50.40%
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS 69 13 32 22 15 79 24 32 L2 2-4-4 49.70%
CAROLINA HURRICANES 66 16 36 25 5 77 25 31 W1 4-4-2 76.10%
NEW YORK RANGERS 68 14 36 28 4 76 30 25 L1 6-4-0 15.60%
FLORIDA PANTHERS 68 14 34 26 8 76 29 31 W1 4-4-2 34.10%

p - Clinched President's Trophy; x - Clinched Playoff Spot

We're thankful for the New Jersey Devils taking down the New York Rangers in regulation, but that's about all the help the Blue Jackets got last night.

The Hurricanes defeated the Islanders, which was the desired outcome of the contest, but it going to overtime and giving each team at least a point was brutal.

The Washington Capitals beat the Pittsburgh Penguins, which is something, too - but the Philadelphia Flyers and the Florida Panthers also both took home two points. 

Tonight's Game(s) of Interest

Home Away Who to Cheer for
PITTSBURGH (39–22–6, 84p) CAROLINA (36–25–5, 77p) The Penguins. They're already ahead of the Blue Jackets in the standings, so keeping the Hurricanes at a distance (who are closing in on Columbus) would be helpful.
VANCOUVER (35-26-6, 76p) COLUMBUS (32-22-15, 79p) The boys in blue.

Blue Jackets Playoff Odds

Make It In 2nd Rnd Conf. Finals SC Finals Win SC Win Metro 2nd Metro 3rd Metro WC1 WC2
44.90% 20.00% 8.60% 3.90% 1.80% 0.0% 0.4% 5.6% 18.7% 24.8%

Odds courtesy of MoneyPuck.com

When there were 15 games remaining on the season for the Blue Jackets, it was reasonable to ask them to win at least nine of those games and grab a point in two of the losses. With only take 1/4 possible points through the first two since then, the future looks grim. 


Today's stress ball: It's time to think back to a simpler (and more fun) time.

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