The Blue Jackets are underway in a key stretch that could go a long way in deciding whether their fans are doing “playoff math” this spring.

Despite losing Laine and Gaudreau as top scorers, the fast-rising Blue Jackets have impressed GM Don Waddell with a offensive firepower.

Tarasov became the first goaltender in NHL history to record his first career shutout and suffer a loss in the same game.

On Dec. 18, the Blue Jackets ranked 26th in the NHL standings and trailed a wild-card spot by five points. After dropping eight of their last nine games, the playoffs seemed increasingly out of reach. They have gone 9-3 ever since.

NEW YORK -- Igor Shesterkin made 27 saves and stopped all three shooters in the shootout to lift the New York Rangers to a 1-0 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Madison Square Garden on Saturday. "We played awesome," Shesterkin said about the Rangers defensive effort.

The Blue Jackets (21-17-6) have won five straight and play the San Jose Sharks at Nationwide Arena on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; FDSNOH, NBCSCA). They will host the Detroit Red Wings in the 2025 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series at Ohio Stadium on March 1 (6 p.m. ET; ESPN, TVAS-D, SN360).

Blue Jacket retain Aston-Reese for one more year at $775,000 after claiming him off waivers from the Golden Knights in the preseason.

The four-game, six-night venture begins tonight in Manhattan, as the Blue Jackets take on the New York Rangers before heading to take on the Islanders on Monday. From there, the wheels are up to Toronto for a Wednesday meeting before the trip ends a night later with a third division game Thursday in Carolina.

Blue Jackets' winning ways continue thanks to late-game heroics from Werenski and Marchenko in shootout win over Flyers.

The Montreal Canadiens are currently playing some very strong hockey. They have earned points in 10 of their last 12 games. Looking at this stretch, it is striking to see that the two regular-season losses were against teams that were at the bottom of the standings at the time: the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Chicago Blackhawks.

Prediction for the NHL New York Rangers vs Columbus Blue Jackets match will occur on January 19. Who will turn out to be stronger? Check the team conditions! Several betting options are available.