2017-18 Central Division Championship
A franchise built on Ohio's Civil War legacy, the Blue Jackets continue to chase their first conference finals appearance.
The Columbus Blue Jackets (colloquially known as the Jackets) are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio. The Blue Jackets compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. The franchise began play as an expansion team in 2000.
Quick Facts
- Season
- 2017–18
- Division
- Central (Eastern Conference)
- League
- National Hockey League (NHL)
- Franchise
- Columbus Blue Jackets
- Star player
- Artemi Panarin
- Playoff result
- Eliminated in First Round by Washington Capitals
Lore & Background
The Blue Jackets' name and logos are inspired by Ohio's Civil War history. The team qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in 2009, but were swept by the defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings in the first round. Columbus did not win a playoff game until the 2014 playoffs against the Pittsburgh Penguins, and won their first playoff series in 2019 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, becoming the first team in NHL history to sweep the Presidents' Trophy winners in the first round.
Reader's Guide
The Blue Jackets play their home games at Nationwide Arena in downtown Columbus, which opened in 2000. They are affiliated with the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL.
Did You Know?
- The franchise struggled in their initial years, failing to win 30 games in a season until 2005–06.
- Along with the Seattle Kraken (started play in 2021) and Utah Mammoth (started play in 2024), the Blue Jackets are one of only three teams in the league who have yet to appear in the conference finals.
- The Blue Jackets replaced the Columbus Chill of the ECHL, who played in the city from 1991 to 1999.
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