Aaron Portzline

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Aaron Portzline

One week ago, the Columbus Blue Jackets needed a miracle - maybe a series of miracles - to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs. Now, after surviving a fourth consecutive game on the brink of elimination, the Blue Jackets can almost see themselves jetting off the playoffs later in the week. Maybe goaltender Jet Greaves is one of those miracles.

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Aaron Portzline

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Incredibly, implausibly, the Columbus Blue Jackets still have a chance to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Montreal Canadiens, who could have eliminated the Blue Jackets with a win on Monday against the 31st-place Chicago Blackhawks, blew an early 2-0 lead and lost 4-3 following a truly bizarre shootout before 21,105 stunned fans in Bell Centre.

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Aaron Portzline

The Columbus Blue Jackets have been one of the NHL's most inspiring stories all season, and this storybook journey may yet get a storybook ending. One week ago, the Blue Jackets were parked in 12th place in the Eastern Conference, with four teams and eight points separating them from the final playoff spot. It wasn't a pretty picture, either. There were verbal spats between teammates, ugly performances and shutout losses.

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Aaron Portzline

COLUMBUS, Ohio - A collection of notes, insights, ruminations and did-you-knows gathered throughout the week that was for the Columbus Blue Jackets:Item No. 1: Jet set? Jet Greaves wasn't drafted, but he showed enough ability in the Ontario Hockey League to earn an invitation in September 2021 to play for the Blue Jackets in the Traverse City rookie prospect tournament. He played so well in that tournament that he earned an invitation to training camp.

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Aaron Portzline

COLUMBUS, Ohio - There were fights. There were big hits. There were at least two truly bizarre occurrences. And there were lots of goals, at least for the home team. The Columbus Blue Jackets, clinging to faint playoff hopes, took a 6-0 lead midway through the second period and cruised to a 7-0 win over the Washington Capitals before 18,645 in Nationwide Arena, a game that had something for everyone.