Blue Jackets Host Desperate Sharks in Playoff Push

Columbus looks to bounce back from recent offensive struggles as postseason race tightens

Mar. 28, 2026 at 11:31am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Columbus Blue Jackets return home to host the San Jose Sharks in a crucial late-season matchup as both teams fight for playoff positioning. The Blue Jackets are coming off a tough loss in Montreal where they dominated possession but struggled to score, and head coach Rick Bowness has challenged his team to play with more 'nastiness' to generate more offense. With just 10 games left, the Blue Jackets know they'll be getting every opponent's best effort as the playoff race heats up in the Eastern Conference.

Why it matters

The Blue Jackets currently hold a slim one-point lead in the playoff race, but with several tough opponents remaining on the schedule, they'll need to find a way to generate more offense to secure a postseason berth. The Sharks, meanwhile, are also fighting to stay in the Western Conference playoff picture, setting up a high-intensity matchup between two desperate teams.

The details

Despite outshooting and outchancing the Montreal Canadiens in their last game, the Blue Jackets fell 2-1, marking their second loss in the last three games. Head coach Rick Bowness has challenged his team to play with more 'nastiness' and physicality to create more scoring chances, as the Blue Jackets have scored just four goals over their last three games. With 10 games remaining, the Blue Jackets will face several teams still in playoff contention, including two games against the first-place Carolina Hurricanes and single matchups against the Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens, and Detroit Red Wings - all of whom are fighting for postseason positioning.

  • The Blue Jackets and Sharks will face off tonight at Nationwide Arena in Columbus.
  • Columbus has won 20 of its past 28 games and has points in 12 straight home games, tying a franchise record.

The players

Rick Bowness

Head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets, who has challenged his team to play with more physicality and intensity down the stretch.

Mason Marchment

Forward for the Columbus Blue Jackets, who noted that the intensity and desperation will be high as teams fight for playoff spots in the final stretch of the season.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“'Are we outchancing teams and outshooting teams? Yeah. Analytics, that all looks good, but don't hide behind the analytics. We are going to have to be harder offensively to play against. I'm not gonna hide behind analytics and say expected goals for and the shots. That's not winning games for us.'”

— Rick Bowness, Head Coach, Columbus Blue Jackets

“'Normally the last 12, 15 games are kind of more playoff-like games, especially with teams pushing to make the playoffs. Basically everyone is pushing to find a spot somewhere, so yeah, the intensity is definitely getting up, and that's good for us.'”

— Mason Marchment, Forward, Columbus Blue Jackets

What’s next

The Blue Jackets will look to bounce back from their recent offensive struggles and secure a crucial win against the desperate Sharks as the playoff race tightens in the Eastern Conference.

The takeaway

With just 10 games remaining and a tight playoff race, the Blue Jackets know they'll need to find a way to generate more offense and play with a heightened level of physicality and intensity to hold onto their playoff positioning. The team's ability to respond to head coach Rick Bowness' challenge will be key as they face a gauntlet of opponents also fighting for their postseason lives.