Blue Jackets Surge Into Buffalo With Playoff Push

Tuesday's comeback win over Detroit sets up a key matchup tonight against the resurgent Sabres

Apr. 9, 2026 at 11:24am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the dynamic action of a hockey game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Buffalo Sabres, with the players' movements and the intensity of the game captured through an abstract, fractured composition.The Blue Jackets' hard-fought comeback victory over the Red Wings has set the stage for a crucial matchup against the resurgent Sabres as Columbus continues its playoff push.Philadelphia Today

The Columbus Blue Jackets kept their playoff hopes alive with a dramatic 4-3 shootout victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night. The win, which featured a game-tying goal by Adam Fantilli in the final seconds and the shootout winner by Zach Werenski, has the Blue Jackets within two points of the final playoff spots in the Eastern Conference with four games remaining.

Why it matters

The Blue Jackets' season-saving win over the Red Wings has given the team a much-needed boost of confidence and momentum as they battle for a postseason berth. With the playoff race in the Eastern Conference tightening, every point is crucial, and the Blue Jackets will look to build on their comeback victory when they take on the resurgent Buffalo Sabres.

The details

The Blue Jackets found themselves trailing the Red Wings 3-2 late in the third period on Tuesday, but Fantilli's game-tying goal with just 16.2 seconds remaining sent the game to overtime. In the shootout, Werenski, a native of the Detroit area, scored the decisive goal to give Columbus the victory and keep their playoff hopes alive.

  • The Blue Jackets' win over the Red Wings occurred on Tuesday, April 8, 2026.
  • The Blue Jackets will face the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday, April 9, 2026.

The players

Adam Fantilli

A forward for the Columbus Blue Jackets who scored the game-tying goal in the final seconds of regulation against the Red Wings.

Zach Werenski

A defenseman for the Columbus Blue Jackets who scored the decisive shootout goal against the Red Wings, his hometown team.

Columbus Blue Jackets

An NHL team based in Columbus, Ohio that is currently battling for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Detroit Red Wings

An NHL team based in Detroit, Michigan that the Blue Jackets defeated in a shootout on Tuesday.

Buffalo Sabres

An NHL team based in Buffalo, New York that the Blue Jackets will face on Wednesday in a key matchup for their playoff push.

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What they’re saying

“That was such a great team win. It was awesome. It definitely helps the mood in the locker room. We were not where we wanted to be and the position wasn't lost on us at all, so we knew we needed that one. It speaks to the resiliency of this group. We're not gonna sit back and watch these points go by us.”

— Adam Fantilli, Blue Jackets Forward

“It's huge. I think we can definitely build on it. I think our focus was strictly on tonight's game, and I think it helped our team game. I felt like we put everything into it, our energy. Guys played extremely hard for 65 full minutes, and we're gonna build on it. We're going to keep going. We're gonna fight to the end and see what happens. Just an awesome performance from a lot of guys. I felt like our whole team game, everyone was bought in.”

— Zach Werenski, Blue Jackets Defenseman

What’s next

The Blue Jackets will look to build on their comeback win over the Red Wings when they take on the resurgent Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday, April 9, 2026. The game is a crucial one for Columbus as they continue to battle for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with just four games remaining in the regular season.

The takeaway

The Blue Jackets' dramatic victory over the Red Wings has given the team a much-needed boost of confidence and momentum as they fight to keep their playoff hopes alive. The team's resilience and determination to overcome adversity will be key as they look to secure a postseason berth in the final stretch of the season.