Why Blue Jackets’ Rick Bowness isn’t sweating blowout loss to Sabres amid playoff race

The Columbus Blue Jackets lost to the Buffalo Sabres 5-0 on Thursday, falling to 11th in the Eastern Conference. A mid-season charge had them in the dance temporarily, but they have run out of juice and may not make the postseason. Blue Jackets head coach Rick Bowness is not panicking about the playoffs after the brutal loss to the Sabres.

Give their goalie all the credit in the world. That second period is one of the best periods we played all year, and we came out of it with nothing to show for it. If we play like that again on Saturday we’ll be fine,” Bowness said, per Jeff Svoboda of BlueJackets.com.

Colton Ellis picked up his first NHL shutout for the Sabres on Thursday, but not for a lack of Columbus offense. They managed 37 shots on goal and won the Expected Goals battle 2.3-1.66, according to MoneyPuck. Jet Greaves did not have a great third period, allowing three goals before a fourth went into an open net.

The Blue Jackets went 18-2-4 in the first 24 games under Bowness, flying into a playoff spot. They were 19-19-7 under Dean Evason and near the basement of the Eastern Conference. But the previously retired Bowness had the magic to wake this core up and get on the doorstep of the playoffs.

Bowness is only under contract for the remainder of this season. So if the Blue Jackets do not make the playoffs, his run in Columbus will likely be over. There is no sense in panicking now, as no one expected the Jackets to even make it this far.

The Blue Jackets are two points behind the Philadelphia Flyers and four points behind the Ottawa Senators, who own the final two playoff spots. Columbus has a chance, but will have to outrun the New York Islanders and one of those teams to make it.

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