The Columbus Blue Jackets are on a skid right now, dropping three of their last four games, and tonight look ahead to a steep challenge with the Carolina Hurricanes coming into Columbus for the first half of a back-to-back between the teams.
Not many things have gotten away from the Blue Jackets under head Rick Bowness as badly as their recent 4-3 shootout loss against the Boston Bruins. The Blue Jackets led that game 3-0 with just over 13 minutes to play in the third period.
Related: Blue Jackets Still Have Much to Learn To Be Playoff Ready
However, sitting right on the edge of the playoff line — currently on the inside looking to preserve it — the Blue Jackets have a remaining schedule chalked full of playoff-like games that they need to find a way to win. These games will be the difference maker between being in the playoffs or just narrowly missing them again this season.
It’s obvious this game between these two Metropolitan Division foes will be vastly important for not only punching their ticket to the playoffs, but also for seeding. This one needs to mean a lot to the Blue Jackets.
Kent Johnson Needs to Bring the Juice
Returning from being scratched Sunday against the Bruins, Kent Johnson draws into this matchup and will play on the fourth line with Isac Lundestrom and Miles Wood. He needs to find a way to do what he does best and create opportunities in open ice.
Bowness touched on Johnson’s ability to create in his pregame press conference today. He talked about his skill and his hockey hands, but admitted he doesn’t play well through contact or in board battles.
“When he gets to the open ice, he’s got great vision. He’s got great hockey hands and then he can use that. But he’s gotta get to the open ice. He’s got wheels, and he’s very dangerous when he’s in there. They give him room, he’s making something happen,” said Bowness.
If Johnson can play his style of game and create, as everyone knows he can, he can be a massive difference maker for what feels like a must-win game tonight. His open-ice creativity allows for Columbus to leave him on an island and let him create.
Paired with a very solid defensive center in Lundestrom and a super speedy winger in Wood, this line can make a huge impact on the game if they get the legs going early. Look for Johnson’s offensive ability to be a huge difference maker.
Bussi vs. Greaves Part 3
Both of the first two matchups this season between the Blue Jackets and the Hurricanes have seen the same goaltending matchup: Brandon Bussi and Jet Greaves. Tonight is no different as the two square off again to see who can take the lead in the season series as it is tied 1-1-0 ahead of this rubber match.
Bussi struggled against the Blue Jackets in their last affair, allowing five goals on 30 shots. Two of the goals allowed came on the power play as the Blue Jackets cruised to a 5-1 win. Greaves shined in that game, stopping 28 of 29 shots, and shutting down the lone power play the Hurricanes had.
#CBJ head coach Rick Bowness confirms Kent Johnson goes in for the injured Mathieu Olivier tonight while Jet Greaves gets the net against Carolina in Nationwide Arena.
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) March 31, 2026
The first game between the two netminders was a little bit of a different story. Greaves took the loss while stopping 28 shots on 31 shots (the Hurricanes scored an empty-netter while Greaves was pulled). Bussi, on the other hand, was excellent, stopping 23 of 24 shots and allowing just one goal that came on the back of a power play in a 4-1 Hurricanes win.
This matchup will likely come down to which backstop can reign supreme. Both teams like to pepper the puck at the net, and we have seen both goalies be outstanding at various points in this season. Greaves and Bussi will be the battle of the night.
Both teams will likely roll with their other goaltenders in Thursday night’s rematch. Greaves will look to finish off a great season series against the Hurricanes and snag a win tonight to supply hope in the playoff push.
Points, Points, Points
The only thing the Blue Jackets need to be worried about over these last eight games is points. The need to find a way to come away with points in almost every one of the remaining games to force their way into a jam-packed Eastern Conference playoff race.
Beating the top teams helps with that. This will be another chance to play up to their competition much like they have all season. They had beaten the Hurricanes at their own game the last time they played, and ahead of tonight’s matchup, Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour discussed how he was displeased with his team in their last effort against Columbus. He kept it short and sweet, saying “we weren’t ready.”
Expect Carolina to come out firing in a big way asa they need these points badly for playoff seeding as well.
An update on this:
POINTS / CHANCE:
95 = 8% (from 15%)
96 = 25% (from 33%)
97 = 51% (from 59%)
98 = 74% (from 82%)
99 = 94% (from 95%)
100 = 99% (no change)No clear magic number yet, but best guess at this point says 98 gets the #CBJ in. That’s a 4-2-2 finish. 5-2-1 = 94%. https://t.co/70tzK8PhXU
— Ed Francis (@BlueJacketStats) March 31, 2026
The Blue Jackets’ magic number is likely around the 98-point mark, and currently sitting at 88 points, they got some work to do over the final eight games. Ideally, Columbus could find a way to get a big two points tonight, and then from there get some help by a couple of other Metropolitan Division teams losing tonight, like the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Islanders, and they could sneak up the board a little bit.
However, the only thing on the Blue Jackets’ minds is points. They need to get them, anyway they can. Manufacture offense, trust your goalie to be a wall, and walk out of Nationwide Arena with two more points on the tally. A big matchup with bigger implications tonight at 7:30 ET in Columbus.
