Sabre Stats: Columbus breaks through

By Budd Bailey

The Columbus Blue Jackets really did shock the world on Tuesday night – or at least the hockey-watching part of it.

The Blue Jackets finished off an almost amazing sweep of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Tampa Bay had one of the great regular seasons in recent years, going 62-18-4 for 128 points. Columbus went 47-31-4 for 98 points, only good for fifth place in the Metropolitan Division. But the Blue Jackets had gone all in at the trade deadline in an attempt to win now, and the moves paid off.

What’s more, Columbus won its first playoff series … ever. It’s hard to put a price tag on what that means to the franchise.

The Blue Jackets became the last active franchise to actually win a playoff series. Columbus entered the league in 2000, so this was season No. 19 in its history. The wait is over.

Let’s see how long it took the various teams to get that first playoff series win:

Columbus – 19^th season
Winnipeg – 18^th season
New Jersey – 14^th season
Nashville – 12^th season
Tampa Bay – 11^th season
Washington – 9^th season
Carolina – 7^th season
Detroit – 7^th season
Arizona – 6^th season
Ottawa – 6^th season
Philadelphia – 6^th season
Buffalo – 5^th season
Chicago – 5^th season
Vancouver – 5^th season
Anaheim – 4^th season
Boston – 3^rd season
Colorado – 3^rd season
Florida – 3^rd season
Minnesota – 3^rd season
N.Y. Islanders – 3^rd season
Pittsburgh – 3^rd season
San Jose – 3^rd season
Calgary – 2^nd season
Dallas – 2^nd season
Edmonton – 2^nd season
Los Angeles – 2^nd season
N.Y. Rangers – 2^nd season
Montreal – 1^st season
St. Louis – 1^st season
Toronto – 1^st season
Vegas – 1^st season

The Jets left the list just last year; some of that drought took place while the franchise was in Atlanta. A reminder – the Sabres made the playoffs in their third season, but beat someone in the fifth.

Now, let’s take a look at the reverse of that. When was the last time a team won a playoff series? The Blue Jackets and Islanders top the list for the moment.

Columbus – 2019
N.Y. Islanders – 2019 (previous win – 2016)
Boston – 2018
Nashville – 2018
Pittsburgh – 2018
San Jose – 2018
Tampa Bay – 2018
Vegas – 2018
Washington – 2018
Winnipeg – 2018
Anaheim – 2017
Edmonton – 2017
N.Y. Rangers – 2017
Ottawa – 2017
St. Louis – 2017
Dallas – 2016
Calgary – 2015
Chicago – 2015
Minnesota – 2015
Montreal – 2015
Los Angeles – 2014
Detroit – 2013
Arizona – 2012
New Jersey – 2012
Philadelphia – 2012
Vancouver – 2011
Carolina – 2009
Colorado – 2008
Buffalo – 2007
Toronto – 2004
Florida – 1996

The Sabres may have gone the longest without qualifying for the playoffs, but they are not in the basement here thanks to the Maple Leafs and Panthers.

(Follow Budd on Twitter @WDX2BB)