The CBJ Writer

Introduction and Rick Bowness Staying: I waited a week to write this so my thoughts and feelings about the season could sink in and not be spur-of-the-moment. I also wanted to see what our General Manager, Don Waddell, would decide regarding keeping Rick Bowness as head coach following his blunt and emotional remarks to the media after Tuesday's final game and loss in Nationwide Arena. Rick Bowness made news across the world with his comments of frustration and how he'd change the culture if brought back. I know that sounds dramatic to say 'across the world', but nearly every hockey creator I follow on TikTok posted remarks about his comments, and although the Blue Jackets aren't these creators' primary team, they expressed support for his reaction and hoped he'd be hired back. This doesn't include media outlets like ESPN and the New York Times also writing articles about his emotional response to what had been a remarkable and inspired turn around sicne...

The team, coaches, and fans alike are sad to see the 25th season of Columbus Blue Jackets' hockey end after 82 games. That said, I'm proud of this team. Even if we lost tonight, it would be our first season with over 90 points since the 2018-19 season. The Eastern Division was stacked this year, and many good teams with high point totals are not going to the postseason. Sadly, we are one of them, in a world of ifs, buts, and whats. Things might have been different. That is not reality, though, and in the one we are in, I'm proud of this team. We're seeing improvement with each season, and I can't wait to see what the 26th season holds for our Blue Jackets. That said, we have to wrap up the 25th season first. So, here's the last game recap for our quarter-century celebration season, 5th Line!  This game would showcase two teams reeling from being eliminated from the playoffs with one game to play. If I'm being honest, I expected more of a spark from the Washi...

The Blue Jackeets come home for their last two games of the season. Tonight, the first, is our night. Happy 5th Line Night, Blue Jackets fans! With former Blue Jackets goalie Joonas Korpisalo in net for the Bruins and Jet Greaves in our net, the puck would drop at 6:00 p.m. The 2 points on the line for the game tonight would keep our Blue Jackets in the playoff hunt, while the Bruins punched their ticket last night in the Wild Card 1 spot. Without a win tonight, it would be nearly impossible for us to take the Philadelphia Flyers 3rd spot in the Metropolitan Division. They have 94 points. We have 92. It's put up or shut up time, and this is how tonight went.  Mason Marchment would make the cannon go to work early in Period 1, adding goal number nineteen to his season at 3:50! Dante Fabbro would add his sixth assist this season on the primary, while our captain, Boone Jenner, would add assist twenty-five to his season on the secondary. But, of course, the fact that the Bruins are in...

The last three games of this season are must-wins for our Columbus Blue Jackets for a few reasons. First, this is our last road game of the regular season, and our last regular-season game against a Canadian team. Second, we're still in a race for a spot in the 2026 NHL playoffs. Third, even if we can't get in, the momentum from these last games will carry over into the franchise's 26th season. Fourth, our team has performed well enough that players can be nominated for NHL Honours. For example, our captain, Boone Jenner, has been nominated for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy and the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy already this week. Speaking of Boone Jenner, guess who scored first tonight?  Our captain would kick off the goal-scoring tonight on the road at 1:13 with goal number twelve of his season! The tip-in goal would give Zach Werenski his fifty-ninth assist this season on the primary, while Danton Heinen added his fourth assist this season on the secondary. Not long af...

With 4 games left in this 82-game, 25th-anniversary season for our Columbus Blue Jackets, we're still in the hunt for a playoff spot. Tonight's road game was against a team that's in the playoffs but still in the fight for home-ice advantage. The Buffalo Sabers sit at 104 points, while we sit at 90. It's been 14 years since the Sabers made it to the playoffs, but they're already in, so congratulations to them, but I want those 2 points! Let's recap some hockey, 5th Line!  Period 1 would be impressive on both sides of the ice. You have to give credit where it is due, and the Sabers have come a long way in recent years. That said, so have our Blue Jackets. Both facts were on full display in this opening period. Case in point? The shots on goal at the end of this period were 10-10. The only difference was that Sabers' Josh Norris would pick off a pass from Zach Werenski, charge down the ice, passing to teammate Peyton Krebs, and scoring the opening goal of the ...

Every game is a must-win as our Columbus Blue Jackets continue their chase for a playoff spot. The Blue Jackets would start off well, scoring the first goal in Detroit tonight. Danton Heinon would add goal number six to his season at 2:06! Mason Marchment would come away with the only assist on Danton Heinon's goal, his twenty-fourth of the season. Now, the Red Wings are also pushing for postseason play, and they'd match our goal at 10:27, tying this game at 1-1. Dylan Larkin would add his thirty-first goal to his season on a Red Wings power play as Conor Garland sat in the box for interference against J. T. Compher. Patrick Kane would add his thirty-fifth assist with the primary on this goal, while Moritz Seider would add his forty-sixth assist this season after picking up the secondary. The first period would conclude with that 1-1 tie on the scoreboard, and also a tie in shots on goal, 9-9.  At 6:27 into Period 2, the Red Wings would acquire their first lead of the night, go...