2018–19 Columbus Blue Jackets season

The 2018–19 Columbus Blue Jackets season was the 19th season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on June 25, 1997. On April 5, 2019, the Blue Jackets clinched a playoff spot after a 3–2 shootout win over the New York Rangers.

The Blue Jackets won their first ever playoff series by sweeping the Presidents' Trophy winners, the Tampa Bay Lightning, in the First Round of the playoffs. However, the Blue Jackets were not able to carry their success into the Second Round, and they were eliminated by the Boston Bruins in six games.

Standings

Schedule and results

Preseason The preseason schedule was published on June 15, 2018. 2018 preseason game log: 3–5–0 (home: 2–2–0; road: 1–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 17 Buffalo 4–1 Columbus Thiessen 9,845 0–1–0 Recap 2 September 18 Chicago 1–4 Columbus Berube 10,422 1–1–0 Recap 3 September 21 Columbus 0–3 St. Louis Bobrovsky 15,190 1–2–0 Recap 4 September 22 Columbus 3–7 Pittsburgh Korpisalo 17,190 1–3–0 Recap 5 September 23 St. Louis 5–1 Columbus Bobrovsky 11,758 1–4–0 Recap 6 September 25 Columbus 4–2 Buffalo Korpisalo — 2–4–0 Recap 7 September 28 Pittsburgh 6–7 Columbus Bobrovsky 13,976 3–4–0 Recap 8 September 29 Columbus 1–4 Chicago Korpisalo 20,594 3–5–0 RecapNotes: Game was played at Clinton Arena in Clinton, New York.

Regular season The regular season schedule was released on June 21, 2018. 2018–19 game logOctober: 6–5–0 (home: 3–4–0; road: 3–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 4 Columbus 3–2 Detroit OT Korpisalo 19,515 1–0–0 2 Recap 2 October 5 Carolina 3–1 Columbus Bobrovsky 18,306 1–1–0 2 Recap 3 October 9 Colorado 2–5 Columbus Bobrovsky 11,694 2–1–0 4 Recap 4 October 11 Columbus 5–4 Florida Korpisalo 14,394 3–1–0 6 Recap 5 October 13 Columbus 2–8 Tampa Bay Bobrovsky 19,092 3–2–0 6 Recap 6 October 18 Philadelphia 3–6 Columbus Bobrovsky 13,492 4–2–0 8 Recap 7 October 20 Chicago 4–1 Columbus Bobrovsky 17,005 4–3–0 8 Recap 8 October 23 Arizona 4–1 Columbus Bobrovsky 11,458 4–4–0 8 Recap 9 October 25 Columbus 7–4 St. Louis Korpisalo 17,068 5–4–0 10 Recap 10 October 27 Buffalo 4–5 Columbus OT Korpisalo 15,642 6–4–0 12 Recap 11 October 30 Detroit 5–3 Columbus Bobrovsky 14,288 6–5–0 12 RecapNovember: 9–3–2 (home: 4–0–1; road: 5–3–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 12 November 1 Columbus 4–1 San Jose Bobrovsky 15,879 7–5–0 14 Recap 13 November 3 Columbus 1–4 Los Angeles Bobrovsky 18,230 7–6–0 14 Recap 14 November 4 Columbus 2–3 Anaheim OT Korpisalo 16,727 7–6–1 15 Recap 15 November 6 Dallas 1–4 Columbus Bobrovsky 14,159 8–6–1 17 Recap 16 November 9 Columbus 2–1 Washington Bobrovsky 18,506 9–6–1 19 Recap 17 November 10 NY Rangers 5–4 Columbus SO Korpisalo 18,384 9–6–2 20 Recap 18 November 12 Columbus 2–1 Dallas Bobrovsky 17,543 10–6–2 22 Recap 19 November 15 Florida 3–7 Columbus Korpisalo 14,872 11–6–2 24 Recap 20 November 17 Columbus 4–1 Carolina Bobrovsky 13,040 12–6–2 26 Recap 21 November 19 Columbus 2–4 Toronto Bobrovsky 19,134 12–7–2 26 Recap 22 November 23 Toronto 2–4 Columbus Bobrovsky 18,656 13–7–2 28 Recap 23 November 24 Columbus 2–4 Pittsburgh Korpsialo 18,602 13–8–2 28 Recap 24 November 26 Columbus 7–5 Detroit Bobrovsky 17,510 14–8–2 30 Recap 25 November 29 Minnesota 2–4 Columbus Bobrovsky 15,210 15–8–2 32 RecapDecember: 8–5–1 (home: 4–4–1; road: 4–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 26 December 1 Columbus 2–3 NY Islanders Bobrovsky 13,917 15–9–2 32 Recap 27 December 4 Calgary 9–6 Columbus Bobrovsky 14,885 15–10–2 32 Recap 28 December 6 Columbus 4–3 Philadelphia OT Bobrovsky 19,428 16–10–2 34 Recap 29 December 8 Washington 4–0 Columbus Bobrovsky 18,501 16–11–2 34 Recap 30 December 11 Vancouver 3–2 Columbus Korpisalo 14,689 16–12–2 34 Recap 31 December 13 Los Angeles 1–4 Columbus Bobrovsky 15,087 17–12–2 36 Recap 32 December 15 Anaheim 2–1 Columbus OT Bobrovsky 16,171 17–12–3 37 Recap 33 December 17 Vegas 0–1 Columbus Bobrovsky 15,008 18–12–3 39 Recap 34 December 20 New Jersey 1–2 Columbus Bobrovsky 15,595 19–12–3 41 Recap 35 December 22 Columbus 4–3 Philadelphia Bobrovsky 19,311 20–12–3 43 Recap 36 December 23 Columbus 3–0 New Jersey Bobrovsky 12,872 21–12–3 45 Recap 37 December 27 Columbus 4–3 NY Rangers OT Korpisalo 18,006 22–12–3 47 Recap 38 December 28 Toronto 4–2 Columbus Bobrovsky 18,963 22–13–3 47 Recap 39 December 31 Ottawa 3–6 Columbus Bobrovsky 18,549 23–13–3 49 Recap January: 5–6–0 (home: 3–2–0; road: 2–4–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 40 January 4 Columbus 2–4 Carolina Bobrovsky 15,346 23–14–3 49 Recap 41 January 5 Columbus 4–3 Florida OT Bobrovsky 15,213 24–14–3 51 Recap 42 January 8 Columbus 0–4 Tampa Bay Bobrovsky 19,092 24–15–3 51 Recap 43 January 10 Nashville 3–4 Columbus OT Korpisalo 17,065 25–15–3 53 Recap 44 January 12 Columbus 2–1 Washington OT Korpisalo 18,506 26–15–3 55 Recap 45 January 13 NY Rangers 5–7 Columbus Bobrovsky 17,417 27–15–3 57 Recap 46 January 15 New Jersey 1–4 Columbus Korpisalo 16,377 28–15–3 59 Recap 47 January 18 Montreal 4–1 Columbus Korpisalo 18,892 28–16–3 59 Recap 48 January 19 Columbus 1–2 Minnesota Bobrovsky 19,054 28–17–3 59 Recap 49 January 29 Buffalo 5–4 Columbus Bobrovsky 16,615 28–18–3 59 Recap 50 January 31 Columbus 3–4 Winnipeg Bobrovsky 15,321 28–19–3 59 RecapFebruary: 8–5–0 (home: 3–4–0; road: 5–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 51 February 2 St. Louis 4–2 Columbus Korpisalo 16,681 28–20–3 59 Recap 52 February 5 Columbus 6–3 Colorado Bobrovsky 15,398 29–20–3 61 Recap 53 February 7 Columbus 4–2 Arizona Bobrovsky 15,319 30–20–3 63 Recap 54 February 9 Columbus 4–3 Vegas Bobrovsky 18,301 31–20–3 65 Recap 55 February 12 Washington 0–3 Columbus Bobrovsky 15,701 32–20–3 67 Recap 56 February 14 NY Islanders 3–0 Columbus Bobrovsky 16,531 32–21–3 67 Recap 57 February 16 Columbus 5–2 Chicago Bobrovsky 22,196 33–21–3 69 Recap 58 February 18 Tampa Bay 5–1 Columbus Korpisalo 16,411 33–22–3 69 Recap 59 February 19 Columbus 2–3 Montreal Bobrovsky 20,858 33–23–3 69 Recap 60 February 22 Columbus 3–0 Ottawa Bobrovsky 13,918 34–23–3 71 Recap 61 February 23 San Jose 0–4 Columbus Bobrovsky 19,025 35–23–3 73 Recap 62 February 26 Pittsburgh 5–2 Columbus Bobrovsky 18,776 35–24–3 73 Recap 63 February 28 Philadelphia 3–4 Columbus OT Bobrovsky 17,169 36–24–3 75 RecapMarch: 9–6–1 (home: 5–2–0; road: 4–4–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 64 March 2 Edmonton 4–0 Columbus Bobrovsky 18,628 36–25–3 75 Recap 65 March 3 Winnipeg 5–2 Columbus Bobrovsky 16,091 36–26–3 75 Recap 66 March 5 Columbus 2–1 New Jersey SO Bobrovsky 12,085 37–26–3 77 Recap 67 March 7 Columbus 0–3 Pittsburgh Korpisalo 18,611 37–27–3 77 Recap 68 March 9 Pittsburgh 1–4 Columbus Bobrovsky 19,146 38–27–3 79 Recap 69 March 11 Columbus 0–2 NY Islanders Bobrovsky 11,827 38–28–3 79 Recap 70 March 12 Boston 4–7 Columbus Bobrovsky 16,554 39–28–3 81 Recap 71 March 15 Carolina 0–3 Columbus Bobrovsky 18,832 40–28–3 83 Recap 72 March 16 Columbus 1–2 Boston OT Korpisalo 17,565 40–28–4 84 Recap 73 March 19 Columbus 2–4 Calgary Bobrovsky 18,288 40–29–4 84 Recap 74 March 21 Columbus 1–4 Edmonton Korpisalo 18,347 40–30–4 84 Recap 75 March 24 Columbus 5–0 Vancouver Bobrovsky 17,805 41–30–4 86 Recap 76 March 26 NY Islanders 0–4 Columbus Bobrovsky 17,928 42–30–4 88 Recap 77 March 28 Montreal 2–6 Columbus Bobrovsky 18,641 43–30–4 90 Recap 78 March 30 Columbus 5–2 Nashville Bobrovsky 17,751 44–30–4 92 Recap 79 March 31 Columbus 4–0 Buffalo Bobrovsky 17,990 45–30–4 94 Recap April: 2–1–0 (home: 0–1–0; road: 2–0–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 80 April 2 Boston 6–2 Columbus Bobrovsky 18,890 45–31–4 94 Recap 81 April 5 Columbus 3–2 NY Rangers SO Bobrovsky 17,341 46–31–4 96 Recap 82 April 6 Columbus 6–2 Ottawa Korpisalo 18,425 47–31–4 98 RecapLegend:

Playoffs

The Blue Jackets faced the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the playoffs, and swept the series in four games, marking the first time in franchise history the team won a playoff series.

The Blue Jackets faced the Boston Bruins in the Second Round of the playoffs, where they fell to the Bruins in six games. 2019 Stanley Cup playoffsEastern Conference first round vs. (A1) Tampa Bay Lightning: Columbus won 4–0 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap 1 April 10 Columbus 4–3 Tampa Bay Bobrovsky 19,092 1–0 Recap 2 April 12 Columbus 5–1 Tampa Bay Bobrovsky 19,092 2–0 Recap 3 April 14 Tampa Bay 1–3 Columbus Bobrovsky 19,224 3–0 Recap 4 April 16 Tampa Bay 3–7 Columbus Bobrovsky 19,328 4–0 RecapEastern Conference second round vs. (A2) Boston Bruins: Boston won 4–2 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap 1 April 25 Columbus 2–3 Boston OT Bobrovsky 17,565 0–1 Recap 2 April 27 Columbus 3–2 Boston 2OT Bobrovsky 17,565 1–1 Recap 3 April 30 Boston 1–2 Columbus Bobrovsky 19,337 2–1 Recap 4 May 2 Boston 4–1 Columbus Bobrovsky 19,431 2–2 Recap 5 May 4 Columbus 3–4 Boston Bobrovsky 17,565 2–3 Recap 6 May 6 Boston 3–0 Columbus Bobrovsky 19,219 2–4 RecapLegend:

Player statistics As of May 6, 2019

Skaters

Regular season Player 79 28 59 87 14 23 80 41 28 69 3 20 82 27 34 61 16 64 82 27 20 47 25 60 75 9 37 46 1 28 82 11 33 44 −12 18 77 16 22 38 6 42 77 23 13 36 8 8 73 17 18 35 12 44 56 1 28 29 20 10 75 2 23 25 −1 12 82 8 16 24 19 36 80 5 16 21 3 6 ‡ 53 11 8 19 −3 12 73 2 15 17 6 23 61 6 8 14 −16 36 † 23 4 8 12 −1 2 † 21 4 8 12 4 0 78 3 9 12 −8 19 44 4 3 7 −5 2 47 4 2 6 −5 10 25 0 5 5 6 6 † 14 1 1 2 −1 9 2 1 0 1 3 0 8 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 −1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 −1 2 4 0 0 0 1 0 4 0 0 0 0 4 13 0 0 0 −4 0

Playoffs Player 10 5 6 11 0 0 10 5 5 10 4 0 10 3 6 9 0 0 10 2 6 8 2 4 10 1 5 6 3 9 10 2 3 5 −1 0 10 2 3 5 −5 14 10 0 4 4 4 2 8 2 1 3 −2 2 7 1 2 3 2 4 10 1 2 3 −5 22 10 1 2 3 −1 4 10 1 2 3 1 2 10 1 2 3 2 4 9 1 0 1 3 2 10 1 0 1 0 6 10 1 0 1 −2 2 7 0 1 1 1 2 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 −2 0 1 0 0 0 −1 0

Goaltenders Regular season Player 62 61 3,556:40 37 24 1 153 2.58 1,756 .913 9 0 0 2 27 21 1,360:34 10 7 3 67 2.95 651 .897 0 0 0 0 Playoffs Player 10 10 622:56 6 4 25 2.41 333 .925 0 0 0 0 †Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Blue Jackets. Stats reflect time with the Blue Jackets only. ‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Blue Jackets only. Bold/italics denotes franchise record.

Transactions The Blue Jackets have been involved in the following transactions during the 2018–19 season.

Trades Date Details Ref To Detroit Red Wings5th-round pick in 2019To Columbus Blue JacketsMTL's 6th-round pick in 2018 To Chicago BlackhawksJordan SchroederTo Columbus Blue JacketsJean-Francois Berube To Arizona CoyotesJacob GravesConditional 6th-round pick in 2019To Columbus Blue JacketsRyan MacInnis To Pittsburgh PenguinsBlake SiebenalerTo Columbus Blue JacketsConditional 7th-round pick in 2019 To Ottawa SenatorsVitalii AbramovJonathan DavidssonConditional 1st-round pick in 2019Conditional 1st-round pick in 2020To Columbus Blue JacketsJulius BergmanMatt Duchene To Ottawa SenatorsAnthony Duclair2nd-round pick in 20202nd-round pick in 2021To Columbus Blue JacketsRyan DzingelCGY's 7th-round pick in 2019 To New Jersey Devils5th-round pick in 2022To Columbus Blue JacketsKeith Kinkaid To New York RangersJulius Bergman4th-round pick in 20197th-round pick in 2019To Columbus Blue JacketsAdam McQuaid To Winnipeg JetsAlex BroadhurstTo Columbus Blue JacketsFuture considerations

Free agents