As the Vancouver Canucks travel to face the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 28, 2025, at Nationwide Arena, both teams approach this inter-conference matchup with postseason aspirations and high stakes on the line, making this clash far more than just another late-season fixture. The Canucks, currently 34-26-12 and sitting fourth in the Pacific Division, are in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race, needing every possible point as they push to lock down a wild card or climb the divisional ranks. Meanwhile, the Blue Jackets, at 32-29-9 and sixth in the Metropolitan Division, are not mathematically eliminated and are clinging to hope in the ultra-tight Eastern race, especially with recent improvements in performance suggesting they still have a run in them. Vancouver comes into this game on the back end of a challenging six-game road trip, having gone 2-1-1 over the first four games, showing the kind of grit and depth that’s been necessary all season to overcome injuries, inconsistent scoring, and defensive lapses. Leading the charge offensively for the Canucks is Quinn Hughes, a Norris Trophy-caliber defenseman who tops the team in assists (23) and overall points (29), anchoring the team’s highly effective top-11-ranked power play that has been a game-changer in close contests. Supporting him is forward Jake DeBrusk, whose 11 goals have led the team and provided critical finishes, especially when top scorers have gone cold. In goal, Kevin Lankinen has stood tall with a 12-3 record and a .906 save percentage, offering the Canucks confidence when games get tight. On the flip side, Columbus has found success recently, including a vital win over the Islanders, and although their all-time home record against Vancouver is slightly negative (13-15-5), they’ve taken five of the last seven matchups overall and the last four games between these teams have all gone to the home side, a notable trend that favors the Jackets.

Their blueline is anchored by Zach Werenski, who has posted 8 goals and 27 points along with a +11 rating, while Kirill Marchenko has added scoring depth with 10 goals and a +14 mark, making them two of the Jackets’ most reliable and efficient players. However, Columbus continues to be plagued by an atrocious penalty kill, currently riding a franchise-record stretch of 11 consecutive games allowing a power-play goal, a glaring weakness that Vancouver’s power play is well-positioned to exploit. Despite Vancouver’s own struggles on the road, where they’ve gone just 3-8-2 and have allowed an average of 4.00 goals per game, the Canucks may find a favorable matchup if they can draw penalties and avoid defensive breakdowns, especially with the Jackets’ goaltending still inconsistent. For Columbus, success lies in maintaining offensive zone pressure, staying disciplined, and leaning on their physicality to disrupt Vancouver’s rhythm. Both teams will likely roll all four lines in a playoff-style contest where puck possession, special teams, and goaltending could tip the balance. With Vancouver seeking to strengthen its playoff grip and Columbus fighting to stay relevant, this game should offer intensity, urgency, and plenty of drama between two clubs with everything to gain and even more to lose as the regular season nears its conclusion.