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See Columbus Blue Jackets' updated playoff path after win over Montreal
TL;DR
The Columbus Blue Jackets boosted their NHL playoff chances with a 5-2 win against the Montreal Canadiens, raising their odds from 14.2% to 24%. They have two home games left to improve their playoff position.
The Blue Jackets have a little more glimpse of hope to make the NHL playoffs.
On April 11, the Jackets picked up a much-needed 5-2 win against the Montreal Canadiens on the road. Charlie Coyle, Khiril Marchenko and Adam Fantilli each picked up two points in the victory.
Less than three weeks ago, the Blue Jackets had over a 90% chance to make the playoffs, according to various projections. After hitting 14.2% after a 5-0 loss to the Sabres, the Blue Jackets' odds have increased to 24% on MoneyPuck.
The Blue Jackets have a two-game homestand remaining to attempt to will their way back into the playoff picture.
Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Conor Garland (83) skates with the puck as Buffalo Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson (23) defends during the first period at KeyBank Center.
Buffalo Sabres goaltender Colten Ellis (92) on the ice before the start of a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at KeyBank Center.
Buffalo Sabres right wing Jack Quinn (22) skates with the puck as Columbus Blue Jackets center Charlie Coyle (3) defends during the first period at KeyBank Center.
Buffalo Sabres center Peyton Krebs (19) celebrates his goal with center Josh Norris (9) during the first period against the Columbus Blue Jackets at KeyBank Center.
A general view of a Columbus Blue Jackets jersey worn by a player against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center.
Buffalo Sabres center Josh Norris (9) and Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson (44) go after a loose puck during the second period at KeyBank Center.
Buffalo Sabres center Josh Norris (9) tries to deflect a shot as Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Jet Greaves (73) makes a glove save during the second period cat KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Jet Greaves (73) makes a save on Buffalo Sabres right wing Alex Tuch (89) during the second period at KeyBank Center.
Buffalo Sabres right wing Alex Tuch (89) skates up ice with the puck during the second period against the Columbus Blue Jackets at KeyBank Center.
Columbus Blue Jackets center Sean Monahan (23) defends as Buffalo Sabres center Tyson Kozak (48) shoots the puck up ice during the second period at KeyBank Center.
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Jet Greaves (73) makes a save during the second period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center.
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson (44) knocks the puck off the stick of Buffalo Sabres right wing Jack Quinn (22) during the second period at KeyBank Center.
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Jet Greaves (73) makes a save during the second period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center.
Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson (72) skates with the puck as Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Ivan Provorov (9) defends during the third period at KeyBank Center.
Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Mason Marchment (17) waits for the face-off during the first period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center.
Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Danton Heinen (43) skates with the puck as Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson (72) tries to defend during the first period at KeyBank Center.
Buffalo Sabres center Peyton Krebs (19) celebrates his goal with teammates during the first period against the Columbus Blue Jackets at KeyBank Center.
Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli (19) looks to make a pass during the first period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center.
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson (23) knocks Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Conor Garland (83) off the puck during the first period at KeyBank Center.
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Ivan Provorov (9) takes a shot on goal during the first period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center.
Columbus Blue Jackets center Sean Monahan (23) waits for the face-off during the first period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center.
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Blue Jackets clash with Sabres in Buffalo
Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Conor Garland (83) skates with the puck as Buffalo Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson (23) defends during the first period at KeyBank Center.
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Blue Jackets clash with Sabres in Buffalo
Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Conor Garland (83) skates with the puck as Buffalo Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson (23) defends during the first period at KeyBank Center.
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Blue Jackets clash with Sabres in Buffalo
Buffalo Sabres goaltender Colten Ellis (92) on the ice before the start of a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at KeyBank Center.
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Blue Jackets clash with Sabres in Buffalo
Buffalo Sabres right wing Jack Quinn (22) skates with the puck as Columbus Blue Jackets center Charlie Coyle (3) defends during the first period at KeyBank Center.
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Blue Jackets clash with Sabres in Buffalo
Buffalo Sabres center Peyton Krebs (19) celebrates his goal with center Josh Norris (9) during the first period against the Columbus Blue Jackets at KeyBank Center.
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Blue Jackets clash with Sabres in Buffalo
A general view of a Columbus Blue Jackets jersey worn by a player against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center.
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Blue Jackets clash with Sabres in Buffalo
Buffalo Sabres center Josh Norris (9) and Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson (44) go after a loose puck during the second period at KeyBank Center.
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Blue Jackets clash with Sabres in Buffalo
Buffalo Sabres center Josh Norris (9) tries to deflect a shot as Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Jet Greaves (73) makes a glove save during the second period cat KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
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Blue Jackets clash with Sabres in Buffalo
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Jet Greaves (73) makes a save on Buffalo Sabres right wing Alex Tuch (89) during the second period at KeyBank Center.
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Blue Jackets clash with Sabres in Buffalo
Buffalo Sabres right wing Alex Tuch (89) skates up ice with the puck during the second period against the Columbus Blue Jackets at KeyBank Center.
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Blue Jackets clash with Sabres in Buffalo
Columbus Blue Jackets center Sean Monahan (23) defends as Buffalo Sabres center Tyson Kozak (48) shoots the puck up ice during the second period at KeyBank Center.
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Blue Jackets clash with Sabres in Buffalo
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Jet Greaves (73) makes a save during the second period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center.
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Blue Jackets clash with Sabres in Buffalo
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson (44) knocks the puck off the stick of Buffalo Sabres right wing Jack Quinn (22) during the second period at KeyBank Center.
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Blue Jackets clash with Sabres in Buffalo
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Jet Greaves (73) makes a save during the second period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center.
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Blue Jackets clash with Sabres in Buffalo
Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson (72) skates with the puck as Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Ivan Provorov (9) defends during the third period at KeyBank Center.
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Blue Jackets clash with Sabres in Buffalo
Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Mason Marchment (17) waits for the face-off during the first period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center.
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Blue Jackets clash with Sabres in Buffalo
Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Danton Heinen (43) skates with the puck as Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson (72) tries to defend during the first period at KeyBank Center.
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Blue Jackets clash with Sabres in Buffalo
Buffalo Sabres center Peyton Krebs (19) celebrates his goal with teammates during the first period against the Columbus Blue Jackets at KeyBank Center.
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Blue Jackets clash with Sabres in Buffalo
Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli (19) looks to make a pass during the first period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center.
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Blue Jackets clash with Sabres in Buffalo
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson (23) knocks Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Conor Garland (83) off the puck during the first period at KeyBank Center.
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Blue Jackets clash with Sabres in Buffalo
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Ivan Provorov (9) takes a shot on goal during the first period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center.
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Blue Jackets clash with Sabres in Buffalo
Columbus Blue Jackets center Sean Monahan (23) waits for the face-off during the first period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center.
What is the Columbus Blue Jackets' remaining path to the Stanley Cup playoffs in 2026?
According to NHL.com's latest standings, only one playoff spot remains up for grabs. The Ottawa Senators clinched a playoff spot with their April 11 win over the New York Islanders, correspondingly eliminating the remaining Metropolitan Division teams in the hunt from the wild card race. The final Metropolitan Division playoff berth is a battle among the Philadelphia Flyers, Blue Jackets, Islanders and Washington Capitals.
At 92 points, the Blue Jackets sit two points back of the Flyers for the third playoff berth in the Metropolitan Division. After the Islanders' April 11 loss, the Blue Jackets are one point ahead of both the Islanders and Capitals. Columbus would need to outpace both teams and at least match the Flyers in points to get in playoff position.
For tiebreaker implications, the Blue Jackets have 28 regulation wins, more than the Flyers (26) but fewer than the Islanders (29) and the Capitals (35).
Apr 11, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Columbus Blue Jackets forward Adam Fantilli (19) plays the puck and Montreal Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson (8) defends during the first period at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
The Blue Jackets have two games remaining: a final homestand against the Bruins on April 12 and the Capitals on April 14. The Bruins are locked into a playoff spot but own the second wild card berth and can improve their position with a win and a Senators loss.
The Flyers need to earn at least three points in a home back-to-back April 13-14 against the Carolina Hurricanes and Canadiens to clinch the final playoff spot. That means there’s a chance the Blue Jackets could again be eliminated before their season finale if they lose April 12 to the Bruins.
When do the 2026 NHL playoffs begin?
The NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs are scheduled to begin April 18.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets updated NHL playoff path after win over Montreal
Q&A
What was the score of the Columbus Blue Jackets game against the Montreal Canadiens?
The Columbus Blue Jackets won the game against the Montreal Canadiens with a score of 5-2.
How did the Blue Jackets' playoff chances change after their recent win?
After their win, the Blue Jackets' playoff chances increased from 14.2% to 24%.
Who were the top performers in the Blue Jackets' victory over Montreal?
Charlie Coyle, Khiril Marchenko, and Adam Fantilli each contributed two points in the victory.
How many games do the Blue Jackets have left to secure a playoff spot?
The Blue Jackets have two home games remaining to improve their chances of making the playoffs.
