Countdown to Finale: 10 Games Left in Gameday #73

Saturday night in Columbus brings a key matchup with playoff implications. The San Jose Sharks visit the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena at 7:00 PM ET.

Game details

Television coverage is on FDSNOH. Radio listeners can tune to 97.1 FM. The game date is March 28, 2026.

The Sharks enter with a 32-31-7 record and 71 points. They sit sixth in the Pacific and 12th in the Western Conference.

Columbus stands at 38-23-11 with 87 points. The Blue Jackets are third in the Metro and seventh in the Eastern Conference.

Lineup updates

Columbus will welcome back Kent Johnson and Dimitri Voronkov to the lineup. Jake Christiansen will slot into the defense corps.

Christiansen replaces Damon Severson. Severson suffered an upper-body injury in the previous game and is listed week to week.

The team does not expect Severson to return during the regular season. There is hope he can be available for the playoffs, if the Blue Jackets qualify.

Sharks outlook

San Jose has underperformed in the standings but exceeded expectations in player development. The club has given young talent meaningful minutes.

That development model has helped the Sharks stay competitive despite falling behind in the playoff race.

League context and stakes

Only 10 games remain in the regular season for many teams. This stretch will decide final seeding and playoff berths.

Filmogaz.com continues its Countdown to Finale coverage across the schedule. This Gameday #73 matchup is a pivotal late-season test.

The Eastern race is extremely tight. Columbus needs a win to maintain separation from rivals, including the New York Islanders.

At the same time, other results around the league will affect standings. The Isles led the Florida Panthers 5-2 at the start of the third period.

The Tampa Bay Lightning were tied with the Ottawa Senators after two periods. A Bolt rally would change the playoff picture.

Other games to watch

• At 5:00 PM, Boston hosts Minnesota. That game airs earlier in the evening.
• Also at 5:00 PM, Pittsburgh hosts Dallas. Both clubs influence the wild-card conversation.
• At 8:00 PM on ABC, the Philadelphia Flyers visit the Detroit Red Wings. A regulation loss could end one club’s hopes.

Columbus faces a must-win situation to keep momentum. The remaining schedule will test depth and health across rosters.