The Columbus Blue Jackets are in one of the tightest wild card races we’ve seen in years.
As of March 27, 2025, five teams are battling for the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. To make things even more interesting, there’s still a mathematical chance that any of those teams could catch the Ottawa Senators for the first wild card position.
With teams having between nine and 11 games remaining in the 2024-25 NHL season, fans should buckle up—these next few weeks are going to be intense.
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For the Blue Jackets, 12 games remain, and they sit just two points behind the Montreal Canadiens for WC2 and six points back of the Senators for WC1. With the playoffs less than a month away, it’s the perfect time to break down their remaining schedule and the key matchups ahead.
Blue Jackets Schedule:
Friday March 28: vs. Vancouver Canucks
Saturday March 29: @ Ottawa Senators
Tuesday April 1: vs. Nashville Predators
Thursday April 3: vs. Colorado Avalanche
Saturday April 5: @ Toronto Maple Leafs
Sunday April 6: @ Ottawa Senators
Tuesday April 8: vs. Ottawa Senators
Thursday April 10: vs. Buffalo Sabres
Saturday April 12: vs. Washington Capitals
Sunday April 13: @ Washington Capitals
Tuesday April 15: @ Philadelphia Flyers
Thursday April 17: vs. New York Islanders
Of the 12 remaining games, four stand out as crucial to the Blue Jackets’ playoff hopes.
Their three matchups against the Senators could be the difference between making or missing the playoffs. If Columbus can win all three, it could push them into a wild card spot and significantly shake up the standings.
The other pivotal game is against the New York Islanders on Thursday, April 17. If the standings remain tight, there’s a real possibility that this game will determine the final playoff spot in the East. To add to the drama, it’s also Columbus’ last game of the season—making it potentially the biggest game of the year.
Buckle up, Blue Jackets fans—the next three weeks are going to be a wild ride.
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