For the first time in team history the Columbus Blue Jackets will compete in the playoffs, but too bad they are up against the defending Stanley Cup champions in the Detroit Red Wings.
Give credit to the Blue Jackets, they worked hard all season long, got stronger down the stretch and could give the Red Wings a scare. Here’s the tricky part, how much gas do the Blue Jackets as a team actually have left in the tank? No doubt they had to play at another level because they had to fend off three other teams just to qualify and cinch the seventh seed.
At the same time, the Red Wings have shown in the past that they take weaker opponents lightly in the playoffs and get embarrassed in the playoffs. Just take a look back at the opening round of the 2003 playoffs, when the Anaheim Ducks faced off against the Red Wings. The result, a four game sweep and the Red Wings were done. Even in 2006 versus the eighth seed Edmonton Oilers, the Red Wings were outplayed, outhustled and lost in six games.
This is truly a David versus Goliath story, and even though the Blue Jackets will be tired, they will still put up a fight, and most definitely the crowd in Columbus will be loud to boost the players’ energy levels.
Still, the Blue Jackets are in tough, just due to the fact that two players carried this team on their backs. Rick Nash, team captain, and only legit goal scorer on the roster posted another forty goal season. One of the most important positions in the game, goaltending, the Blue Jackets were surprised with the play of rookie Steve Mason, with his 33 wins, 10 shutouts and 2.29 goals against average.
With that, the Red Wings won’t have too much to do, because all they really need to do is shut down Rick Nash. As for Steve Mason, his feel good story will take a spin, as he will be overwhelmed by the Red Wings attack, their ability to screen goalies and excellent point play.
Luckily for the Red Wings, Chris Osgood only needs to be average in this series, but will truly have to get better as the playoffs progress, because his 3.09 goals against average and .887 save percentage aren’t up to Red Wings par.
There is no way the Blue Jackets could stop the Red Wings attack because Detroit is probably the only team in the league that could roll out four lines with confidence and that can score. The Red Wings players will school the Columbus defenders.
Columbus Head Coach Ken Hitchcock could plan his defensive schemes all he wants, but there is no way he could plan on stopping Pavel Datsyuk (97 points), Henrik Zetterberg (73 points), Marian Hossa (40 goals), Johan Franzen (34 goals), Jiri Hudler (23 goals), and three other players with 12 or more goals.
If the Blue Jackets could get anything going, they will have to contend with Nicklas Lidstrom, Brian Rafalski, Niklas Kronwall, Brad Stuart and Brett Lebda. The Detroit defenders can both score and defend like no tomorrow.
SERIES PREDICTION --> THE DETROIT RED WINGS WILL WIN THIS SERIES IN 5 OR 6 GAMES.
The opinions and thoughts expressed in this or any other article written by 12nadnuk are of his thinking and what he thinks is correct or close to it in the sporting world. If there are any problems by anyone, 12nadnuk is open for rebuttal and what not, and honest criticism. There is also a comments section, so feel free to post what is on your mind about the article. Thank you for reading.
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