If the Columbus Blue Jackets want to keep their playoff hopes alive, something has to change now. They have dropped six straight contests and three consecutive games in regulation. Their playoff hopes have quickly gone from a near lock to barely hanging on, sitting two points out of the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, with many teams still in the hunt.
One reason for their struggles has been the elevated competition, but the Blue Jackets’ effort has also not been up to head coach Rick Bowness’ expectations, and he has said on numerous occasions what needs to change for his team to reach the postseason.
Injuries have also started to stack up at this critical moment down the stretch, which has made it increasingly difficult for them to find their way. However, with five games left, they have a chance, and they must capitalize on this opportunity, starting Tuesday night in Detroit against the Red Wings.
Blue Jackets Must Play Cohesively and in Rhythm
The Blue Jackets have looked out of sync lately. While their defensive game is closest to what we expect from them, the rest of their game is missing something. While that could be due to missing key players like Damon Severson and Mathieu Olivier, their offensive game has been struggling for the first time since Bowness was named head coach in January.
NHL Game Score Impact Card for Columbus Blue Jackets on 2026-04-04: pic.twitter.com/6hICbrf3bC
— HockeyStatCards (@hockeystatcards) April 5, 2026
Against the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday, when Columbus scored less than 80 seconds into the game before being shut down for the rest of the contest by goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, they looked disjointed and out of sync. They had no flow or rhythm offensively.
The forwards struggled mightily to gain controlled entries into the offensive zone, and even when the Blue Jackets began to press harder, they couldn’t get out of each other’s way. They just looked disjointed in every sense of the word, and they have very little time to fix it.
The road to the finish won’t get any easier, either. They have to start playing a cohesive, simplified game and play with pace as they have done for the last two months, which brought them into the playoff conversation. The forecheck has been lackluster, and their special teams have been nonexistent.
If the Blue Jackets want any chance of making the postseason, those two big pieces have to get going right now. The forecheck can keep teams on their heels and allows the Blue Jackets to use their speed effectively, while their special teams allow them to pad leads and keep powerful offenses off the score sheet.
Blue Jackets Must Play Aggressively
The Blue Jackets have been excellent all season at breaking out offensively, which means they were effective in the defensive zone, or they were aggressive at center ice. The ugly truth is that when they have created chances recently, more often than not, they have scored, but they haven’t created enough of those chances. They have to start creating more opportunities.
Finishing – April 5https://t.co/V5gSnFb3RE pic.twitter.com/NTC4Xso0s5
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) April 5, 2026
The Blue Jackets are average in most league statistics, including their scoring above expected. More scoring chances will mean more goals. Offensively, the Blue Jackets are taking far too many shots from the blue line and not creating chaos or offense in the crease or in front of the net. The forwards have combined for just 14 shots in the past two games, and the team overall has combined for 26 shots on goal in those two games combined.
The forwards have to be more aggressive. They have to get more opportunities in the slot or in high-danger areas and force the goaltender and opposing defense in front of the net to make a play. Playing more aggressively might mean allowing more chances going the other way, but it would be worth the risk, as Jet Greaves has been a brick wall in net for them recently.
Blue Jackets Must Leave it All Out There
With five games left, everyone is tired and battling some sort of injury. But they are so close, and after falling just one game shy of the playoffs last season, they won’t want that to happen again. The team has to be ready to play, and they must leave everything they have on the ice.
They set preseason expectations of making the playoffs after last year’s flaming hot finish fell just short, and now they will be tested with four of their final five games against playoff teams. They have to show up for these games and want it more than the opposition.
Whether they like it or not, expectations are high. Fans are ready for a push, the city wants playoff hockey, and the young core is yearning for their first taste of the postseason. To get there, they must play like they have nothing to lose. With a strong mix of veterans and budding young stars, the team is built for the playoffs; the challenge is getting there.
Related: Blue Jackets Hold Closed-Door Meeting After Latest Loss to Jets
Following their Saturday night loss to the Jets at home, the Blue Jackets held a player-led meeting to help get their heads right and reignite the flame that had them rolling. The media waited outside the locker room for over 20 minutes following the game, and the team needed it. They looked uninspired, unprepared, and flat for most of the contest. That is not the team we have grown accustomed to seeing under Bowness.
The team has a good chance to clinch a spot. Every team in the Eastern Conference playoff race has been failing to finish the job, and Columbus is no different. The race is still tight, and the Blue Jackets are close. Now is the time to go and get what they want.
