The finish line’s in sight, but the Blue Jackets’ season is careening wildly after dropping both ends of a home back-to-back to the San Jose Sharks and Boston Bruins on March 28-29 at Nationwide Arena.
More: Columbus Blue Jackets crumble against Boston Bruins. Replay
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A three-game skid has caused their playoff chances to plummet with only eight games left after climbing into second place of the Metropolitan Division on March 24 with a win in Philadelphia. The Blue Jackets are now clinging to the last wild card in the Eastern Conference by their fingernails.
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Columbus Blue Jackets take on Boston Bruins in tight NHL playoff race
Fans arrive at Nationwide Arena for the NHL hockey game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Boston Bruins on March 29, 2026.
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Columbus Blue Jackets take on Boston Bruins in tight NHL playoff race
Fans arrive at Nationwide Arena for the NHL hockey game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Boston Bruins on March 29, 2026.
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Columbus Blue Jackets take on Boston Bruins in tight NHL playoff race
Fans arrive at Nationwide Arena for the NHL hockey game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Boston Bruins on March 29, 2026.
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Columbus Blue Jackets take on Boston Bruins in tight NHL playoff race
Fans arrive at Nationwide Arena for the NHL hockey game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Boston Bruins on March 29, 2026.
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Columbus Blue Jackets take on Boston Bruins in tight NHL playoff race
Fans arrive at Nationwide Arena for the NHL hockey game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Boston Bruins on March 29, 2026.
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Columbus Blue Jackets take on Boston Bruins in tight NHL playoff race
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (8) skates around Boston Bruins center Fraser Minten (93) during the first period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena on March 29, 2026.
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Columbus Blue Jackets take on Boston Bruins in tight NHL playoff race
Columbus Blue Jackets center Boone Jenner (38) shoots during the first period of the NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins at Nationwide Arena on March 29, 2026.
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Columbus Blue Jackets take on Boston Bruins in tight NHL playoff race
Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli (19) shoves Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy (73) during the first period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena on March 29, 2026.
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Columbus Blue Jackets take on Boston Bruins in tight NHL playoff race
Boston Bruins defenseman Jonathan Aspirot (45) hits Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Kirill Marchenko (86) during the first period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena on March 29, 2026.
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Columbus Blue Jackets take on Boston Bruins in tight NHL playoff race
Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli (19) skates past Boston Bruins left wing Viktor Arvidsson (71) during the first period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena on March 29, 2026.
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Columbus Blue Jackets take on Boston Bruins in tight NHL playoff race
Columbus Blue Jackets center Cole Sillinger (4) changes direction behind Boston Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov (91) during the first period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena on March 29, 2026.
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Columbus Blue Jackets take on Boston Bruins in tight NHL playoff race
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Jet Greaves (73) eyes a shot from Boston Bruins left wing Lukas Reichel (75) during the first period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena on March 29, 2026.
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Columbus Blue Jackets take on Boston Bruins in tight NHL playoff race
Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Conor Garland (83) celebrates a goal by center Boone Jenner (38) during the first period of the NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins at Nationwide Arena on March 29, 2026.
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Columbus Blue Jackets take on Boston Bruins in tight NHL playoff race
Columbus Blue Jackets fans celebrate a goal during the first period of the NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins at Nationwide Arena on March 29, 2026.
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Columbus Blue Jackets take on Boston Bruins in tight NHL playoff race
Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Mason Marchment (17) celebrates a goal during the first period of the NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins at Nationwide Arena on March 29, 2026.
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Columbus Blue Jackets take on Boston Bruins in tight NHL playoff race
Fans give Boston Bruins center Sean Kuraly (52) a welcome back during the first period of the NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on March 29, 2026.
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Columbus Blue Jackets take on Boston Bruins in tight NHL playoff race
Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli (19) takes a faceoff against Boston Bruins center Mark Kastelic (47) during the first period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena on March 29, 2026.
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Columbus Blue Jackets take on Boston Bruins in tight NHL playoff race
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Dante Fabbro (15) gets into a scrum with Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88) during the first period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena on March 29, 2026.
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Columbus Blue Jackets take on Boston Bruins in tight NHL playoff race
Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (1) reacts after giving up a goal during the first period of the NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on March 29, 2026.
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Columbus Blue Jackets take on Boston Bruins in tight NHL playoff race
Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Conor Garland (83) skates around Boston Bruins defenseman Jonathan Aspirot (45) during the first period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena on March 29, 2026.
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Columbus Blue Jackets take on Boston Bruins in tight NHL playoff race
Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Kirill Marchenko (86) skates during the first period of the NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins at Nationwide Arena on March 29, 2026.
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Columbus Blue Jackets take on Boston Bruins in tight NHL playoff race
Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Mathieu Olivier (24) skates past Boston Bruins center Fraser Minten (93) during the first period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena on March 29, 2026.
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Columbus Blue Jackets take on Boston Bruins in tight NHL playoff race
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson (44) fights Boston Bruins left wing Tanner Jeannot (84) during the first period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena on March 29, 2026.
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Columbus Blue Jackets take on Boston Bruins in tight NHL playoff race
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson (44) skates off the ice after a fight with Boston Bruins left wing Tanner Jeannot (84) during the first period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena on March 29, 2026.
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Columbus Blue Jackets take on Boston Bruins in tight NHL playoff race
Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Mathieu Olivier (24) fights Boston Bruins center Mark Kastelic (47) during the first period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena on March 29, 2026.
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Columbus Blue Jackets take on Boston Bruins in tight NHL playoff race
Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Mathieu Olivier (24) fights Boston Bruins center Mark Kastelic (47) during the first period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena on March 29, 2026.
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Columbus Blue Jackets take on Boston Bruins in tight NHL playoff race
Columbus Blue Jackets center Charlie Coyle (3) scores a goal on a pass from center Adam Fantilli (19) during the first period of the NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins at Nationwide Arena on March 29, 2026.
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Columbus Blue Jackets take on Boston Bruins in tight NHL playoff race
Columbus Blue Jackets center Charlie Coyle (3) celebrates a goal during the first period of the NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins at Nationwide Arena on March 29, 2026.
Losing 4-3 in a shootout to the Boston Bruins on March 29 gave Columbus one point, moving the Blue Jackets to 88 points after 74 games, but the Ottawa Senators, Detroit Red Wings and Philadelphia Flyers are all just two points behind them with each playing one less game. The New York Islanders (89 points) are second in the Metro, one point ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins (88 points) in third.
Simulation models used by MoneyPuck and The Athletic now give the Blue Jackets slightly less than a coin flip’s odds of reaching the NHL’s Stanley Cup Playoffs following losses to the Montreal Canadiens and Sharks in regulation and Bruins by shootout. Sports betting services are also shifting their odds to reflect a lower chance for Columbus to make the postseason.
Here’s a closer look:
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See highlights from Columbus Blue Jackets vs San Jose Sharks NHL
Nash Sadler, 8, of Ontario reacts after Columbus Blue Jackets center Boone Jenner (38) skated up to him before the NHL game against the San Jose Sharks at Nationwide Arena on Saturday, March 28, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio.
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See highlights from Columbus Blue Jackets vs San Jose Sharks NHL
Nash Sadler, 8, of Ontario reacts after Columbus Blue Jackets center Boone Jenner (38) skated up to him before the NHL game against the San Jose Sharks at Nationwide Arena on Saturday, March 28, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio.
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See highlights from Columbus Blue Jackets vs San Jose Sharks NHL
A fan receives a free bucket hat before the NHL game against the San Jose Sharks at Nationwide Arena on Saturday, March 28, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio.
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See highlights from Columbus Blue Jackets vs San Jose Sharks NHL
Bucket hats sit on a table for fans before the NHL game against the San Jose Sharks at Nationwide Arena on Saturday, March 28, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio.
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See highlights from Columbus Blue Jackets vs San Jose Sharks NHL
Fans walk into the stadium with their bucket hats before the NHL game against the San Jose Sharks at Nationwide Arena on Saturday, March 28, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio.
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See highlights from Columbus Blue Jackets vs San Jose Sharks NHL
Fans take a photo with the cannon before the NHL game against the San Jose Sharks at Nationwide Arena on Saturday, March 28, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio.
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See highlights from Columbus Blue Jackets vs San Jose Sharks NHL
Fans watch the Columbus Blue Jackets warm up before the NHL game against the San Jose Sharks at Nationwide Arena on Saturday, March 28, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio.
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See highlights from Columbus Blue Jackets vs San Jose Sharks NHL
Columbus Blue Jackets center Boone Jenner (38) interacts with fans before the NHL game against the San Jose Sharks at Nationwide Arena on Saturday, March 28, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio.
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See highlights from Columbus Blue Jackets vs San Jose Sharks NHL
Fans and family members watch the Columbus Blue Jackets warm up before the NHL game against the San Jose Sharks at Nationwide Arena on Saturday, March 28, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio.
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See highlights from Columbus Blue Jackets vs San Jose Sharks NHL
A fan receives a free bucket hat before the NHL game against the San Jose Sharks at Nationwide Arena on Saturday, March 28, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio.
According to MoneyPuck, an NHL statistics site that generates projections, the Blue Jackets now have 49.3% chance of making the playoffs after losing to Boston via shootout. That number had already dropped from 87.1% on March 26 to 77.9% following their March 28 regulation loss to San Jose.
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MoneyPuck generates its percentages by running simulations of the remaining NHL schedule 100,000 times. The Athletic’s model simulates the remaining NHL schedule 50,000 times, and its most recent projection March 29 gave the Blue Jackets a 64% chance to make the East’s playoff field. That was a big drop from 82% prior to the Sharks loss and may drop near or under 50% the next time projections from that model are generated.
MoneyPuck also projects the Blue Jackets to finish with 96.8 points, down from 97.4 points following the loss to San Jose and 98.8 after a March 26 loss in Montreal. The Athletic sees Columbus finishing with 97.2 points, down from 98.8, but that number will also drop in its next batch of projections. MoneyPuck has also cut the Jackets’ chance to win the Stanley Cup from 4.3% before losing to the Bruins to 2.4% now, while The Athletic cuts its chances for that from 4% to 3% for Columbus.
Fans cheer as Blue Jackets center Boone Jenner (38) battles for position with Kraken defenseman Ryker Evans (41) on March 21. The Blue Jackets won 5-2
The Blue Jackets are still slightly favored to make the playoffs with sports betting sites, but those odds have changed significantly after dropping three straight games.
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FanDuel now gives them -125 odds to make it and -105 to miss, while DraftKings has set those odds even at -110 to make it and -110 to miss. BetMGM hadn’t listed odds for the Blue Jackets to make the playoffs while they were a heavy favorite but now lists that as a bet with nearly even odds at -115 to make it and -105 to miss.
The Blue Jackets have two games left against teams they’re competing with for a playoff spot, including April 12 against the Bruins (92 points). The Jackets also play the Red Wings (86 points) on April 7 at Little Caesars Arena.
Here’s a look at how things are going in the Blue Jackets’ final 20 games:
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Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com and @BrianHedger.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets playoff tracker drops odds to coin flip