The Columbus Blue Jackets went into this weekend’s back-to-back against the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators hoping to claw their way back into the second wild card spot in the East.

But Saturday didn’t go their way.

They ran into a hot Maple Leafs team and were shut out 5–0, while the Montreal Canadiens picked up a win of their own.

The result? Columbus now sits six points back of that final playoff spot.

Tonight, the Blue Jackets take on the Senators in the second half of the back-to-back, and it’s about as close to a must-win as it gets. If they lose and Montreal beats the Nashville Predators, the gap will grow to eight points with just six games left.

That kind of deficit would make the playoff dream nearly impossible. Not only would Columbus need to win out or pick up at least eight of a possible 12 points, but they’d also need help—specifically from the Canadiens, New York Rangers, and Detroit Red Wings dropping key games down the stretch.

At this time of year, every game matters. But tonight, if the Blue Jackets want to keep the dream alive, they need to find a way to win in Ottawa.

Columbus Blue Jackets (77 pts) vs. Ottawa Senators (88 pts) Game Preview The Columbus Blue Jackets and Ottawa Senators play each other for the second time this season. Today's game will be the first leg of a back-to-back home-and-home situation for the two teams. 

Maple Leafs Cruise Past Blue Jackets Thanks To Nick Robertson And William Nylander Elvis Merzļikins made 22 saves on the night, but the CBJ failed to score as the Toronto Maple Leafs and Anthony Stolarz shut Columbus out. 

Blue Jackets' Adam Fantilli Ready For Game Against Hometown Team Columbus Blue Jackets forward Adam Fantilli has had this game against his hometown team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, circled on his calendar for a while.

Blue Jackets Need Win In Second Half Of Back-To-Back