COLUMBUS \u2013 A familiar face is one of the things standing in the way of a critical two points for the Winnipeg Jets (32-31-12) tonight.<\/p>\n
Rick Bowness, Winnipeg\u2019s head coach from 2022-2024, has been guiding the Columbus Blue Jackets from near the bottom of the league standings to the middle of the Eastern Conference wildcard race since he was hired on January 12, 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“They\u2019re defending extremely well, they\u2019re above people all the time. They come at you in waves of five. You have to work for your offence, you have to really work to get inside against them,” said head coach Scott Arniel. “That\u2019s something that Bones is always going to preach, making sure you\u2019re doing a job and not giving up the odd-man look. We\u2019ll have to work for our offence tonight.”<\/p>\n
When the game begins all that friendliness will go out the window for 60 minutes. After all, both clubs are on the outside looking in when it comes to their respective playoff chases.<\/p>\n
Winnipeg sits three back in the West. Columbus is tied in points in the East, but the tiebreaker isn’t their friend.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wouldn\u2019t say I knew it was going to be that successful but I knew he\u2019d certainly change the style of play, the defending part first, the buy-in from everybody,\u201d said\u00a0Arniel, commenting on the 19-7-5 run that Columbus has been on. \u201cI know the last couple of games have been tough, but they\u2019re in the hunt and that was the whole idea – find a way to get themselves back into the race. They\u2019re certainly in it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The word \u2018tough\u2019 would accurately describe how both teams feel about their last outing. Winnipeg dropped a 3-0 decision to Dallas on Thursday while Columbus (38-26-12) dropped the back half of a home-and-home with Carolina 5-1 and have now lost five straight.<\/p>\n
In Winnipeg\u2019s case, they just didn\u2019t feel like they got to their game \u2013 the one that\u2019s produced a 10-5-4 record since the Olympics \u2013 quickly enough.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are a good team and they make it tough to generate offence and we were a little stubborn early on,\u201d said captain Adam Lowry of the Stars. \u201cI liked the pushback and the compete in the third but we have just got to do a better job of establishing a forecheck and directing some pucks at the net and finishing some plays low and if they are not there, not being too stubborn and putting some to the goalie\u2019s feet.\u201d<\/p>\n
Those types of plays are exactly what this time of season is all about. Finding ways to get to the net front, knocking in a greasy goal -as the Jets like to call it \u2013 and making life difficult for the opposition to do the same in return.<\/p>\n
Like Winnipeg, Columbus found themselves trailing in the first period in their most recent outing. The Jets were in a 2-0 hole in Dallas through 20 minutes, while Columbus gave up three goals on nine shots in Carolina.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is tough going into other teams’ rinks and playing from behind, digging yourself two or three goal deficits, generally, do not lead to good outcomes,\u201d said Lowry. \u201cClear the mind and get ready for Columbus. They are in a similar position as us,\u00a0fighting for their playoff lives. They have been struggling and we know it is an important game for both teams. Hopefully, whoever gets the jump on the other one comes out on top.\u201d<\/p>\n
The only change to the Jets line-up, based on the morning skate, is that Jacob Bryson will slot in for the injured Elias Salomonsson.<\/p>\n
“I\u2019m pretty familiar with them from playing against them with Buffalo. They\u2019re young, they\u2019re fast,” said Bryson. “It\u2019s a race on both sides and it\u2019s always fun to be a part of it. We\u2019re right there and every point matters, every game matters. Obviously, tonight is a big one.\u201d<\/p>\n
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