COLUMBUS – A familiar face is one of the things standing in the way of a critical two points for the Winnipeg Jets (32-31-12) tonight.
Rick Bowness, Winnipeg’s head coach from 2022-2024, has been guiding the Columbus Blue Jackets from near the bottom of the league standings to the middle of the Eastern Conference wildcard race since he was hired on January 12, 2026.
There will likely be time before the puck drops between the two clubs to catch up, but when the game begins all that friendliness will go out the window for 60 minutes. After all, both clubs are on the outside looking in when it comes to their respective playoff chases.
Winnipeg sits three back in the West. Columbus is tied in points in the East, but the tiebreaker isn't their friend.
“I wouldn’t say I knew it was going to be that successful but I knew he’d certainly change the style of play, the defending part first, the buy-in from everybody,” said Jets head coach Scott Arniel, commenting on the 19-7-5 run that Columbus has been on. “I know the last couple of games have been tough, but they’re in the hunt and that was the whole idea - find a way to get themselves back into the race. They’re certainly in it.”
The word ‘tough’ would accurately describe how both teams feel about their last outing. Winnipeg dropped a 3-0 decision to Dallas on Thursday while Columbus (38-26-12) dropped the back half of a home-and-home with Carolina 5-1 and have now lost five straight.
In Winnipeg’s case, they just didn’t feel like they got to their game – the one that’s produced a 10-5-4 record since the Olympics – quickly enough.
“They are a good team and they make it tough to generate offence and we were a little stubborn early on,” said captain Adam Lowry of the Stars. “I liked the pushback and the compete in the third but we have just got to do a better job of establishing a forecheck and directing some pucks at the net and finishing some plays low and if they are not there, not being too stubborn and putting some to the goalie’s feet.”
Those types of plays are exactly what this time of season is all about. Finding ways to get to the net front, knocking in a greasy goal -as the Jets like to call it – and making life difficult for the opposition to do the same in return.
Like Winnipeg, Columbus found themselves trailing in the first period in their most recent outing. The Jets were in a 2-0 hole in Dallas through 20 minutes, while Columbus gave up three goals on nine shots in Carolina.
“It is tough going into other teams' rinks and playing from behind, digging yourself two or three goal deficits, generally, do not lead to good outcomes,” said Lowry. “Clear the mind and get ready for Columbus. They are in a similar position as us, fighting for their playoff lives. They have been struggling and we know it is an important game for both teams. Hopefully, whoever gets the jump on the other one comes out on top.”
Friday was a travel day for the team, so morning skate will be the best indication of what adjustments Arniel and his coaching staff have in store for Saturday’s road trip finale.
“We want to go in and finish this road trip 3-1,” said Arniel. “We’re going to have to be a lot better with our details, our execution, our battle. Get that stuff, drive it up like we did the first few games of this road trip and then hopefully, we can be on the right side of it.”
The Jets were on the right side of the first meeting between these two teams back in November. On that night, Winnipeg took advantage of a Columbus team playing the second game in a back-to-back set.
The two points the Jets earned in the standings that night were important. As Arniel said in Chicago earlier on this road trip, “two points against Chicago are the exact same two points against Colorado.” No doubt that mentality is still the same, even if the context of a heated playoff race makes them feel even more important.
And the Jets know Bowness and the Blue Jackets will make things difficult.
“It'll be good to see Bones. We haven't seen him in a while, and he loves the game,” said Dylan Samberg. “I knew he wouldn't be able to stay away from it for very long, but you know, it's obviously good to see him having success again.”
Puck drop is set for 6 pm CT.
