The Columbus Blue Jackets earned a 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on March 26, responding to an early deficit and maintaining their strong position in the playoff race. Head coach Rick Bowness said after the game that the team showed resilience following a difficult first period, with leadership in the locker room driving a turnaround.
The win was significant for Columbus as it gave them points in 13 of their last 14 games and moved them into second place in the Metropolitan Division with 87 points. The Eastern Conference standings remain close, with seven teams between 84 and 88 points. Both Columbus and Montreal currently hold postseason spots, but nothing is assured due to the tight competition.
Defenseman Zach Werenski described the team’s focus: “There hasn’t been much separation all year,” Werenski said after the game. “There still isn’t. We have 11 games left. Every game is going to be critical, and every night, each team that you’re fighting with, they’re playing each other so someone’s getting points.” He added that it’s important for Columbus to concentrate on its own performance: “It’s just about focusing on us right now. We’re just going to enjoy this win tonight, we’re gonna get to Montreal and then we’re gonna focus on them come Thursday.”
Bowness praised his players’ response: “Listen, this is a very proud group,” Bowness said. “We know how bad we looked in the first period… We have great leadership in that room. They took over, so we started to play Columbus Blue Jackets hockey in the second and third.”
Columbus has been among the league’s top teams since mid-January with a record of 20-3-4 since Jan. 11 and leading all NHL teams in points percentage during that span (.815). Key players like Werenski—who has reached fifth place for single-season franchise scoring—and Adam Fantilli have contributed significantly during this stretch.
As they prepare for their next road game against Montreal—a team also battling for playoff positioning—the Blue Jackets look to continue their recent success despite several lineup changes due to injuries or roster decisions.
