Blue Jackets clinch playoff berth after beating Stars in makeup game

By Nick Stoico

The Columbus Blue Jackets clinched a spot in the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs after beating the Stars 3-1 on Wednesday night in Dallas. It is only the second time in the 16-year history of the franchise that the Jackets have earned a berth in the postseason tournament.

The game was being made up after their March 10 matchup was postponed early in the first period after the Stars' Rich Peverley collapsed.  The Jackets were leading 1-0 at the time and were allowed to keep that advantage for the start of the makeup game, which went the full regulation 60 minutes. [Boxscore] That goal had been scored by Nathan Horton, who was sidelined by a lower body injury for the restart. As a result, he now occupies an odd place in NHL history.

With the win, Columbus is tied with Philadelphia at 91 points, but the Flyers still hold third place in the Metropolitan Division due to the tie-breaker -- Philadelphia has 38 regulation or overtime wins to Columbus' 37. The Flyers have three games remaining in the regular season while Columbus has two.