Blue Jackets Week Ahead: Schedule & Storylines – Point Streak, Garland Impact and More

It is an incredibly exciting time to be following the Columbus Blue Jackets right now. As of today, March 15, 2026, the team is riding a wave of momentum and fighting tooth and nail for a wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Here is a breakdown of the key stories surrounding the team and a look at their upcoming schedule for the next week.

The Playoff Push and a 9-Game Point Streak

The Blue Jackets are officially the hottest they have been all season. Following a gritty 2-1 shootout win against the Philadelphia Flyers last night (March 14), Columbus extended its point streak to nine games (5-0-4). They just wrapped up a grueling road trip where they played four games in six nights, heavily relying on lockdown team defense. They currently sit at 79 points, sitting just outside the playoff picture but within breathing distance of the Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, and New York Islanders for that final Eastern Conference wild card spot.

The Conor Garland Trade Impact

General manager Don Waddell’s deadline acquisition of Conor Garland from the Vancouver Canucks is looking like a masterstroke. Garland has been red-hot since joining the roster, bringing much-needed balance to the top-nine forwards. He recently posted back-to-back multi-goal games, including a two-goal performance in a 5-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning earlier this week.

Marchenko and Greaves Stepping Up

Forward Kirill Marchenko just netted his 25th goal of the season and scored the shootout decider against the Flyers. Meanwhile, with the team facing heavy fatigue, goaltender Jet Greaves stepped up massively in net against Philadelphia, stopping 18 shots in regulation and overtime to secure the critical victory.

25th Anniversary Celebration Finale

Looking ahead to this week’s schedule, Saturday’s home game against the Seattle Kraken (March 21) will serve as the franchise’s final 25th Anniversary Celebration Game of the season.

Blue Jackets Upcoming Schedule

Columbus is heading back home to Nationwide Arena for a crucial three-game homestand before heading to New York for the second half of a back-to-back weekend.

DateOpponentLocationTime (EDT)
Tuesday, March 17Carolina HurricanesNationwide Arena7:00 PM
Thursday, March 19New York RangersNationwide Arena7:00 PM
Saturday, March 21Seattle KrakenNationwide Arena5:00 PM
Sunday, March 22@New York IslandersUBS Arena 7:00 PM

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