Blue Jackets' Playoff Hopes Hinge on Tight Division Race

It's March 24.

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The Columbus Blue Jacket sit in third place in the Metropolitan Division, tied in points

with the New York Islanders but holding one game in hand.

Both teams face crucial match-ups, Tuesday night, with the Blue Jackets visiting the Philadelphia

Flyers and the Islanders hosting the Chicago Black Hawks.

The Eastern Conference standings are incredibly tight, with seven teams clustered between 83

and 86 points.

A single result could shift the Blue Jackets from second in the division to outside the

playoff picture entirely, making every remaining game a, must, win.

Adding pressure is the Blue Jacket's second toughest remaining schedule in the league, based

on opponents' points percentage of 0.606.

They face tough Eastern foes like the Carolina Hurricanes twice, plus games against Montreal,

Boston, and Detroit.

Only the Boston Bruins have it harder at 0.612, while the Islanders rank third at 0.602

with most games at home.

The Blue Jackets entered Tuesday with a 76.1% chance of playoffs, but individual outcomes

could swing that dramatically.

Fans and coaches alike know the stakes, with head coach Rick Bownes stressing one game

at a time starting against the Flyers.

Win there, and they hold their spot, slip up, and the race intensifies even more as the

final 12 games unfold.