Blue Jackets Look to Rebound Against Jets at Home

Columbus still in playoff contention despite five-game skid

Apr. 4, 2026 at 11:21am

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The Columbus Blue Jackets are looking to snap a five-game losing streak when they host the Winnipeg Jets at Nationwide Arena. Despite the recent struggles, the Blue Jackets remain in the mix for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, sitting just a point behind the New York Islanders for third place in the Metropolitan Division. Head coach Rick Bowness and captain Boone Jenner have emphasized the need for the team to get back to their identity of strong team play and compete level in order to turn things around.

Why it matters

The Blue Jackets' playoff hopes are on the line as they try to avoid falling out of contention in the final weeks of the season. A win against the Jets would be crucial to keeping pace in the tight Eastern Conference wild card race.

The details

The Blue Jackets are coming off a 5-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in which they managed just 10 shots on goal. Bowness and Jenner both cited a lack of team play and compete level as the reasons behind the recent skid. The Blue Jackets remain just a point behind the Islanders for third in the Metro, but have fallen into a tie for the final wild card spot with the Ottawa Senators and Detroit Red Wings.

  • The Blue Jackets host the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
  • Columbus has six games remaining in the regular season.

The players

Rick Bowness

Head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Boone Jenner

Captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

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What they’re saying

“Our team game. When we have our team going and we have every line out there looking the same and working and putting some passion into it, then we're a really good team. When we play like (we did in Carolina), obviously, anybody can beat us tonight.”

— Rick Bowness, Head Coach

“Just our team game, how we're going to play with and without the puck. That pressure game, in your face, hard to play against. I just think tonight, especially in the first, we weren't winning enough battles and winning enough puck races and kind of taking some pressure off our D and our goalie and going to play down there (in the offensive zone). That's the brand of hockey we want to be, and we have to get back to that.”

— Boone Jenner, Captain

What’s next

The Blue Jackets will look to bounce back and snap their five-game losing streak when they host the Winnipeg Jets at Nationwide Arena on Saturday, April 4, 2026.

The takeaway

The Blue Jackets' playoff hopes are hanging in the balance as they try to regain their identity of strong team play and compete level. A win against the Jets would be crucial to keeping pace in the tight Eastern Conference wild card race and avoiding falling out of contention in the final weeks of the season.