Blue Jackets face uphill battle for playoffs at midseason mark
The Columbus Blue Jackets sit last in the Eastern Conference at the halfway point of the 2024-25 season. With 18 wins and 43 points, they trail the final playoff spot by six points. The team faces a tough climb in a tightly packed conference where every rival holds at least a .500 points percentage.
At midseason, Columbus has matched last year’s win total of 18 but earned just one extra point compared to the same stage in 2023-24. Their 5-on-5 play shows balance, with an 89-89 goal differential and an expected goals share of 50.03 percent. Yet, late-game struggles have cost them dearly—they’ve lost nine times in regulation or overtime after leading in the third period, finishing 0-3-6 in those matches.
Goaltender Jet Greaves, in his first full season, has provided steady play with a 12-10-6 record, a 2.64 goals-against average, and a .910 save percentage. On defence, Denton Mateychuk has emerged as an offensive threat, tying for 12th among NHL blueliners with eight goals. His recent surge includes a 2-7-9 line over his last seven games. Up front, Charlie Coyle has stood out as one of the league’s top defensive forwards, often tasked with shutting down opponents’ best players. However, last season’s third-leading scorer, Kent Johnson, has struggled this year, managing just three goals and 11 points in 40 games. The Blue Jackets must overtake seven teams to reach the playoffs. The challenge grows steeper in a conference where even the bottom-ranked clubs remain competitive.
Columbus enters the second half of the season with ground to make up. Their playoff push hinges on improving late-game execution and getting more production from key forwards. With Greaves and Mateychuk performing well, the team will need consistent contributions across the roster to close the gap.
