5 meltdowns that kept Columbus Blue Jackets out of NHL playoffs

This one stung even worse for the Blue Jackets than a year ago, when they missed the playoffs by just two points.

The Jackets finished 2025-26 riding a six-game winning streak that forced the Montreal Canadiens to barely sneak into the postseason on a win in their final game.

This season, the Jackets missed out by six points despite increasing their point total from 89 to 92. Blown leads in third periods were, by far, the biggest reason. They tied the Los Angeles Kings and Montreal Canadiens for most games with a blown lead in the third period (21) and led the league with a whopping 11 games having multi-goal leads vanish in the third. The Anaheim Ducks finished closest to the Jackets in that latter category, blowing multi-goal leads in seven third periods.

Three of the Jackets’ 11 late multi-goal leads that disappeared came against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Penguins finished second in the Metropolitan Division at 98 points, so that four-game series alone could’ve gotten Columbus into the playoffs had the Jackets protected late leads better.

It wasn’t just Pittsburgh, though.

The Jackets blew late leads against nine of their peers in the Eastern Conference, which amounted to a combined 23 extra points for those teams.

It gets worse.

According to MoreHockeyStats.com, the Blue Jackets finished fourth in the NHL in average time per game holding a lead (23:45). They also trailed the third-fewest minutes at 15:06 per game. Columbus and Washington were the only two non-playoff teams among the top 10 teams that led most, while the Jackets were the only non-playoff team among the top 10 that trailed the least.

“There’s so many points that we just gave away, and that definitely made a difference in the end,” Blue Jackets forward Mathieu Olivier said. “I’m sure we’ll have plenty of meetings, and our coaching staff is going to look over that, and they’re going to be honest and blunt about what we need to change … whether it’s on the ice or mentally or whatever we need to improve.”

Here are the Blue Jackets' five most costly meltdowns:

ELMONT, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 02: Simon Holmstrom #10 of the New York Islanders scores the game-winning goal against Elvis Merzlikins #90 of the Columbus Blue Jackets at 19:22 of the third period at UBS Arena on November 02, 2025 in Elmont, New York. The Islanders defeated the Blue Jackets 3-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

New York Islanders 3, Columbus Blue Jackets 2

Date/site: Nov. 2, 2025, at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York

How it unraveled

Finishing a back-to-back against a Metropolitan Division rival, on the road, with a short turnaround following a 3-2 win at home over the St. Louis Blues, the Jackets led 2-1 after Miles Wood broke a 1-1 tie 12:10 into the third period.

Islanders rookie Matthew Schaefer tied it 2-2 with 1:07 left in regulation for his second goal of the game, and New York stole two points when Simon Holmstrom beat Elvis Merzlikins 29 seconds later to put the Isles up with just 38 seconds left.

The damage

The Blue Jackets left with a sickening feeling after coming so close to winning in regulation.

They could’ve gotten two points and held a division rival to none while sweeping a challenging back-to-back, but it went completely the opposite way in the final 1:07 of the game. Gutting loss.

Nov 22, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Red Wings right wing Alex Debrincat (93) scores on Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Jet Greaves (73) in overtime at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Detroit Red Wings 4, Columbus Blue Jackets 3 in OT

Date/site: Nov. 22, 2025, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan

How it unraveled

Zach Werenski, who almost always plays well against his hometown Red Wings, put the Blue Jackets up 3-1 at 8:38 into the third period. Less than five minutes later, it was tied 3-3 after goals by Detroit defensemen Ben Chiarot and Moritz Seider. Alex DeBrincat won it for the Red Wings in overtime, leaving Werenski and the Blue Jackets stunned by another collapse.

The damage

The meltdown and OT loss gave an Eastern Conference opponent two points and robbed the Jackets of an additional point. It also started a four-game slide that included two more overtime losses in games during which Columbus held leads in the third period – Nov. 26 against the Toronto Maple Leafs and Nov. 28 against the Penguins.

Dec 6, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) celebrates the winning goal in overtime against the Columbus Blue Jackets with left wing Brad Marchand (63) and center Evan Rodrigues (17) as Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) leave the ice at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

Florida Panthers 7, Columbus Blue Jackets 6 in OT

Date/site: Dec. 6, 2025, at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida

How it unraveled

The Blue Jackets led 4-1 midway through the second period before the Panthers tied it 4-4 on three straight goals, a span of 4:57, including two power-play goals to cap a controversial sequence in which a failed Columbus challenge for a missed hand pass gave the Panthers a second power play goal to tie it.

Cole Sillinger put the Jackets back on top, 5-4, with a late goal in the second and Isac Lundestrom made it 6-4 early in the third. The Panthers overcame it on goals by Brad Marchand and Anton Lundell to force overtime, leading to Sam Bennett’s OT winner with four seconds left.

The damage

After blowing a three-goal lead in the second and two-goal lead in the third, former Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason was incensed about the officiating. He called the game “a total joke.”

This was likely the beginning of the end for Evason’s tenure in Columbus, even though he wasn’t replaced by Rick Bowness until Jan. 12, following even more late collapses.

Jan 4, 2026; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) celebrates with defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) after scoring the game-winning goal against Columbus Blue Jackets in the overtime period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

Pittsburgh Penguins 5, Columbus Blue Jackets 4 in overtime

Date/site: Jan. 4, 2026, at Nationwide Arena

How it unraveled

The Blue Jackets built a 4-1 lead in the second period before Noel Acciari pulled the Penguins within 4-2 by scoring with 3:09 left in the second. Pittsburgh tied it 4-4 to force overtime with two goals in the third, and Sidney Crosby won it 2:22 into OT.

The damage

The loss started another four-game skid that ultimately cost Evason’s job and ushered in the Bowness era.

Boston Bruins center Pavel Zacha (18) celebrates scoring a goal in the final minute past Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Jet Greaves (73) during the third period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena on March 29, 2026. The Blue Jackets lost 4-3 in a shootout.

Boston Bruins 4, Columbus Blue Jackets 3 in a shootout

Date/site: March 29, 2026, at Nationwide Arena

How it unraveled

A day after losing to the San Jose Sharks 3-2 in a game they led 2-1 starting the third, the Blue Jackets built a 3-0 lead against the Bruins with a dominant first period.

Boston didn’t score in the second either but completely turned the game around by pinning the Jackets into their own end. The Bruins scored three times in the third, including Pavel Zacha’s second of two goals to tie it with 11 seconds left on a power play with Boston’s net empty for a 6-on-4 advantage.

Viktor Arvidsson’s goal decided the shootout, which didn’t include Blue Jackets shootout ace Kent Johnson. He watched the game as a healthy scratch.

The damage

Dropping both ends of their only back-to-back played entirely on home ice started a tailspin that ultimately knocked the Blue Jackets out of the playoffs. It was a subplot of their entire season.

Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com and @BrianHedger.bsky.social

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets' 5 meltdowns that cost them NHL playoff spot