Blue Jackets Face Off Against Devils In Most Important Game Of The Season
© Russell LaBounty-Imagn ImagesIf you were to ask any Columbus Blue Jackets fan what the biggest game of the season was, most would say the March 1 Stadium Series game against the Detroit Red Wings, and rightfully so. That game was amazing to watch, both on TV and live, and was something that every Blue Jackets fan had been waiting 25 years for.
However, if you were to ask what game is the most important, the answer would be tonight against the New Jersey Devils.
This game has major playoff implications. The Devils currently sit in third place in the Metropolitan Division with only a four-point lead over the Blue Jackets. This is the second-to-last time they play each other, with the final meeting set for Monday, March 17. By that time, the Blue Jackets could be adding to their lead over the Devils.
This is as close to a must-win as there has been this season for Columbus. If they can beat the Devils, the race for third in the Metro tightens to just two points—one game. That’s huge for the Blue Jackets, as it’s better for them to get out of the wild card spot and face off against the Carolina Hurricanes, who have had a ton of issues this season, rather than playing the red-hot Washington Capitals or Florida Panthers/Toronto Maple Leafs as a wild card team.
Looking ahead at the Blue Jackets' schedule, things get tough after tonight’s game against the Devils:
- Thursday, March 13 vs. Vegas Golden Knights
- Saturday, March 15 vs. New York Rangers
- Monday, March 17 vs. New Jersey Devils
- Thursday, March 20 vs. Florida Panthers
- Friday, March 21 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
There are teams that are beatable, like the Penguins and potentially even the Rangers. These are teams that can put up a fight, and the games could go either way.
However, after that, the schedule cools off a bit and gets easier:
- March 24 vs. New York Islanders
- March 28 vs. Vancouver Canucks
- March 29 vs. Ottawa Senators
- April 1 vs. Nashville Predators
- April 3 vs. Colorado Avalanche
- April 5 vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
- April 6 vs. Ottawa Senators
- April 8 vs. Ottawa Senators
- April 10 vs. Buffalo Sabres
- April 12 vs. Washington Capitals
- April 13 vs. Washington Capitals
- April 15 vs. Philadelphia Flyers
- April 17 vs. New York Islanders
Looking at these games, there are a few that stand out.
The two against the Ottawa Senators could be huge if the Blue Jackets can’t get past the Devils.
The two against the Capitals, as well as the matchups with the Maple Leafs and Avalanche, could be tough tests. However, Columbus is in a better position than some of the other teams they play to round out the 2024-25 season.
It starts with a win tonight against the Devils and another on March 17—those two games could drastically change the course of the season for the Blue Jackets.