NHL News: Blue Jackets HC Dean Evason issues bold reminder amid playoff chase behind Canadiens

The Columbus Blue Jackets aren’t going down without a fight in the 2024-25 NHL season, and the Montreal Canadiens would be wise to remember that. With two games left before the Stanley Cup Playoffs, head coach Dean Evason sent his team a firm comment.

The Blue Jackets have hit their best level of play at the right time, but perhaps a bit late. Riding a four-game win streak, the Blue Js are praying for the Habs’ downfall as they hope to snatch the final wild card berth in the East.

Columbus is sitting three points behind Montreal with just four points left in play. Saying the Blue Jackets have their heads between a rock and a hard place would be an understatement. However, hope is not lost yet in The Discovery City.

Hope must be aided, nevertheless, and the Blue Jackets have done just that with their recent performances, defeating Ottawa, Buffalo, and Washington twice in their latest outings. Columbus is playing with urgency, and it’s showing on the scoreboard. However, Evason is not letting up on his players, delivering a stern message.

Head coach Dean Evason of the Columbus Blue Jackets stands behind the bench during the second period of a game against the Montreal Canadiens at Nationwide Arena on December 23, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio.

“I don’t know what you’d have to be to not know where we’re at, so everybody knows we have to win,” Columbus coach Dean Evason stated, per NHL.com. “So, we’re conducting ourselves like that. We’re playing hard every night, trying to get two points every night to get where we want to be, and that’s in the playoffs.”

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In need of help

While the Blue Jackets must focus on extending their win streak for two more games, they also need some assistance throughout the league. Firstly, they hope the Chicago Blackhawks deliver an upset loss to the Canadiens at Bell Centre on April 14.

If Montreal secures just one point in their final two outings, Columbus will have to win both of their remaining games in regulation, in order to get the upper hand in the tiebreaker. One more win from the Canadiens, and the dream is over in Columbus, as the Habs would punch their ticket to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.