What tonight means for the Columbus Blue Jackets' playoff race
The Columbus Blue Jackets are 3-4-0, 6 points with a magic number of 155 and a tragic number of 151 — chasing Buffalo Sabres for a wild card spot.
Tonight they host Toronto Maple Leafs.
Nothing is decided for a playoff berth tonight.
Playoff berth
Nothing is decided for a playoff berth tonight.
The Columbus Blue Jackets can't be eliminated tonight; the tragic number is 151 and tonight's games can't bring it to zero.
The Columbus Blue Jackets can't clinch a playoff berth tonight — the magic number is 155 points, more than tonight's games can take off it. The earliest it could happen is 39 games from now.
Games that matter tonight
- Toronto Maple Leafs at Columbus Blue Jackets
- Colorado Avalanche at New Jersey Devils
- Detroit Red Wings at Seattle Kraken
- Anaheim Ducks at New York Islanders
- San Jose Sharks at Montréal Canadiens
4 other NHL games with a smaller bearing on this race were left out of the enumeration, so a path that depends on one of them isn't listed. Every path shown is a real guarantee.
Every combination of these results (0 in all) was checked with the same conservative math as the standings page, so each path listed is a mathematical guarantee — no tiebreaker assumptions in your favor. Want the result-by-result version? The rooting guide on the team page shows what each game does to the numbers.
Get Columbus Blue Jackets alerts
One email the moment the Columbus Blue Jackets clinch, are eliminated, or their magic number moves — plus the morning rooting guide if you want it. Free, in season only, unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked questions
How can the Columbus Blue Jackets clinch a playoff spot tonight?
The Columbus Blue Jackets can't clinch a playoff berth tonight — the magic number is 155 points, more than tonight's games can take off it. The earliest it could happen is 39 games from now.
Can the Columbus Blue Jackets be eliminated tonight?
The Columbus Blue Jackets can't be eliminated tonight; the tragic number is 151 and tonight's games can't bring it to zero.
What is the Columbus Blue Jackets magic number right now?
The Columbus Blue Jackets magic number is 155 and their tragic number is 151.
How are these scenarios calculated?
Every combination of results in the NHL games that bear on the race tonight is enumerated, and the magic and tragic numbers are recomputed in each one with the same conservative math as the standings page. The paths listed are the minimal sets of results that guarantee the outcome no matter how the other games end.