NHL Playoff Race: Blue Jackets’ Chances

After a busy Thursday with 14 games and anticipating another 14 on Saturday, Friday’s NHL schedule features a single matchup: Columbus at Pittsburgh (7 p.m. ET, NHL Network).

The Pittsburgh Penguins have a mixed record of 5-4-1 in their last ten outings. Playoff contention appears distant for them as they likely set their sights on next season.

For the Columbus Blue Jackets, this game presents an opportunity to start their climb back into a playoff spot. On March 8th, following the trade deadline, they were holding the first wild-card position in the Eastern Conference.

Currently, the Blue Jackets are trailing the Montreal Canadiens by three points and one regulation win for the final wild-card berth, with the New York Rangers and New York Islanders positioned between them. Looking ahead, Columbus’s schedule includes two games against the Islanders and three against the Ottawa Senators (who currently hold the first wild-card spot). Additionally, five of their remaining eight games are against teams presently in playoff positions.

Stathletes data indicates Columbus has the ninth most difficult remaining schedule in the league. In comparison, the Islanders are fourth, the Rangers are 11th, and the Canadiens are 18th in schedule difficulty.

However, the Blue Jackets have consistently outperformed preseason expectations, having been projected to earn 69.5 points. Therefore, they should not be discounted from playoff contention until mathematically impossible.

With significant time left until the regular season concludes on April 17th, we will continue to monitor the NHL playoff landscape. We’ll provide updates on all playoff races and the teams vying for favorable positions in the 2025 NHL draft lottery.

Note: Playoff probabilities are sourced from Stathletes.

Explore further:
Current playoff matchups
Today’s schedule
Yesterday’s scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick

Current Playoff Matchups

Eastern Conference

A1 Florida Panthers vs. WC1 Ottawa Senators
A2 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. A3 Tampa Bay Lightning
M1 Washington Capitals vs. WC2 Montreal Canadiens
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New Jersey Devils

Western Conference

C1 Winnipeg Jets vs. WC2 St. Louis Blues
C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche
P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 Minnesota Wild
P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings

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Friday’s Game

Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).

Columbus Blue Jackets at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m. (NHLN)

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Thursday’s Scoreboard

Colorado Avalanche 5, Ottawa Senators 1
Calgary Flames 5, New Jersey Devils 3
Toronto Maple Leafs 4, New York Rangers 3
Washington Capitals 3, Philadelphia Flyers 2
Florida Panthers 1, Columbus Blue Jackets 0 (OT)
New York Islanders 4, Montreal Canadiens 3 (OT)
St. Louis Blues 4, Vancouver Canucks 3 (OT)
Anaheim Ducks 4, Nashville Predators 1
Tampa Bay Lightning 3, Dallas Stars 2 (SO)
Los Angeles Kings 3, Chicago Blackhawks 1
Winnipeg Jets 4, Edmonton Oilers 3 (OT)
Utah Hockey Club 5, Buffalo Sabres 2
Vegas Golden Knights 5, Boston Bruins 1
Carolina Hurricanes 3, San Jose Sharks 1

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Expanded Standings

Atlantic Division

Florida Panthers

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 13
Points pace: 103.4
Next game: @ WSH (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Toronto Maple Leafs

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 13
Points pace: 103.4
Next game: @ NSH (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Tampa Bay Lightning

Points: 85
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 14
Points pace: 102.5
Next game: @ UTA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Ottawa Senators

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 14
Points pace: 92.9
Next game: @ NJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 97.3%
Tragic number: N/A

Montreal Canadiens

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 14
Points pace: 89.2
Next game: vs. COL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 36.3%
Tragic number: N/A

Detroit Red Wings

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Points pace: 84.4
Next game: @ VGK (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 5.3%
Tragic number: 25

Boston Bruins

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 80.8
Next game: @ SJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 2.5%
Tragic number: 20

Buffalo Sabres

Points: 60
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15
Points pace: 73.4
Next game: @ MIN (Saturday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 17

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Metro Division

x – Washington Capitals

Points: 100
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 13
Points pace: 118.8
Next game: vs. FLA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Carolina Hurricanes

Points: 88
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 14
Points pace: 106.1
Next game: @ LA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

New Jersey Devils

Points: 80
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 12
Points pace: 93.7
Next game: vs. OTT (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 96.8%
Tragic number: N/A

New York Islanders

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Points pace: 86.8
Next game: vs. CGY (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 22.8%
Tragic number: 27

New York Rangers

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 84.3
Next game: vs. VAN (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 25.7%
Tragic number: 23

Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Points pace: 85.6
Next game: @ PIT (Friday)
Playoff chances: 13.1%
Tragic number: 26

Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 66
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 77.3
Next game: vs. CBJ (Friday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 17

Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 75.0
Next game: @ DAL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 15

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Central Division

Winnipeg Jets

Points: 100
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 12
Points pace: 117.1
Next game: vs. BUF (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Dallas Stars

Points: 90
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 14
Points pace: 108.5
Next game: vs. PHI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Colorado Avalanche

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 12
Points pace: 101.9
Next game: @ MTL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Minnesota Wild

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 13
Points pace: 98.6
Next game: vs. BUF (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 95.7%
Tragic number: N/A

St. Louis Blues

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 12
Points pace: 90.2
Next game: vs. CHI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 56%
Tragic number: N/A

Utah Hockey Club

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 86.8
Next game: vs. TB (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 7.7%
Tragic number: 23

Nashville Predators

Points: 58
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Points pace: 69.9
Next game: vs. TOR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 10

e – Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 49
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 58.2
Next game: @ STL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

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Pacific Division

Vegas Golden Knights

Points: 88
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 14
Points pace: 106.1
Next game: vs. DET (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Edmonton Oilers

Points: 85
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 13
Points pace: 101.0
Next game: vs. SEA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Los Angeles Kings

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 15
Points pace: 101.6
Next game: vs. CAR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.3%
Tragic number: N/A

Vancouver Canucks

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 90.3
Next game: @ NYR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 25.3%
Tragic number: N/A

Calgary Flames

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Points pace: 90.4
Next game: @ NYI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 16.1%
Tragic number: 27

Anaheim Ducks

Points: 68
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 80.8
Next game: vs. CAR (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 18

Seattle Kraken

Points: 65
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 76.1
Next game: @ EDM (Saturday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 13

Race for No. 1 pick

1. San Jose Sharks

Points: 45
Regulation wins: 13

2. Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 49
Regulation wins: 17

3. Nashville Predators

Points: 58
Regulation wins: 21

4. Buffalo Sabres

Points: 60
Regulation wins: 21

5. Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 17

6. Seattle Kraken

Points: 65
Regulation wins: 24

7. Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 66
Regulation wins: 19

8. Anaheim Ducks

Points: 68
Regulation wins: 22

9. Boston Bruins

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 23

10. Detroit Red Wings

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 24

11. Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 23

12. New York Rangers

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 30

13. New York Islanders

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 25

14. Utah Hockey Club

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 23

15. Calgary Flames

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 26

16. Vancouver Canucks

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 25