Preview: Blue Jackets vs. Red Wings (Game 3)

7. Columbus Blue Jackets vs.
2. Detroit Red Wings
Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
7:00 PM EDT
TV: FSOhio (Columbus) / Versus
Radio: WWCD(fm)/WBNS(am)

Detroit leads, 2-0

(Dispatch Preview / SportsDirect Preview)

Well, if the Jackets have any designs on making some noise in this first round playoff series, it’s going to have to be done tonight in their first home game of the series. The city of Columbus has been waiting for this night for a decade, as they finally get to welcome playoff hockey to Nationwide. In an effort to stir things up and cash in on the home ice advantage of being able to set the matchups, coach Ken Hitchcock is shaking up his lines to try to get players like Rick Nash a little more room to operate. But, it’s going to come down to two things tonight: will the Jackets play physically, but also SMARTLY and stay out of the penalty box, and can they get pucks on Chris Osgood and get in his kitchen a bit? They’re getting out-hit and out-shot something fierce in the series so far, and something has to change if they want to get on the board against the Wings.

Projected Lineups
Detroit Red Wings:

Columbus Blue Jackets:

Series Results
1. Columbus 1 at Detroit 4 [recap]
2. Columbus 0 at Detroit 4 [box]

Game Notes
The two biggest notes for this game are the obvious, and the much-needed.

The Obvious: Columbus is hosting its first-ever playoff game, and the Arena District promises to be electric all night. I will be attending both tonight’s game as well as Thursday’s game, and am excited to soak it all in.

The Much-Needed: Columbus is shaking up its lineup in an effort to mix things up and create some offense against Detroit.

I won’t go into the same detail that I did in the Game 1 preview, which has the regular season numbers and such; a lot of the nuts and bolts are the same. The only major difference is the lineup changes listed above. Antoine Vermette has been promoted to the #1 line, and with the home matchup advantage coach Ken Hitchcock has the ability to get that line out there with some better defensive matchups. Both Nash and Kristian Huselius have been nearly invisible on the stat sheets so far, and so hopefully the matuchups—combined with Vermette’s better overall skill level—will help to provide an offensive spark for the club.

As far as the atmosphere vs. actually competing, my friend Jeff and I were talking during the third period on Saturday as the beat-down was in full force and were in agreement that just making the playoffs is a step on the evolutionary ladder for Columbus. Honestly, I’m OK with the idea that everything else is gravy at this point. Perhaps the Jackets themselves can adopt that attitude, can then relax, and actually play their game again. They have just looked overmatched the majority of the time.The Jackets “played their game” for the first 30 minutes of Game 1 last Thursday, and looked like they belonged during that time frame. As soon as Detroit either went on the Power Play and/or scored a goal in both games, the Jackets looked like they started panicking and became afraid to make any mistakes… which always causes them to play tentatively and get smoked by the talent of the Wings. Columbus had success against the Wings in the regular season when they forechecked and caused Detroit’s defensemen to make some bad turnovers in their own zone. Detroit’s defense is middle-of-the-road—and frankly, at this point in his career, Osgood is average at best—but the Jackets are making those units look stellar, because no one is willing to try to forecheck for fear of getting beat going back the other way. Columbus is getting outshot by like 30 in the first two games. Not good times. They need to get in Osgood’s face and test him early and often.

The Jackets also still need to regain control of the faceoff circle. They have two of the best in the league in Malhotra and Vermette, but they continue to struggle winning the draws and maintaining any kind of puck possession against Detroit. In addition, it would help if they got back to the first half of Game 1 on defense, in which they refused to let Detroit’s forwards set up and camp out right in front of Steve Mason. Tomas Holmstrom basically had a permanent spot in front of Mason, and his screening was a huge factor on the first goal of Game 2.

Really, Columbus just needs to get to the point where they’re no longer quite so tentative because of (what appears to be) their being overwhelmed by the situation and the opposition. They need to exploit their matchups, they need to play with a physical edge (the Wings are out-hitting them through the first two games, as well), but to maintain their discipline and trust in their system. They can’t panic, because Detroit IS going to score. The Jackets need to realize that, and not freak out when they give up a goal, or even when they take a penalty. The rest should take care of itself and allow them to stay in this game.

From The Outside Looking In
Winging It In Motown
MLive.com
Detroit Free Press
RockKing

Remaining Series Schedule
Game 4 – Thursday, April 23, 7:00 PM EDT – @Columbus
Game 5* – Saturday, April 25, 6:00 PM EDT – @Detroit
Game 6* – Monday, April 27, time TBA – @Columbus
Game 7* – Wednesday, April 29, time TBA – @Detroit

(*if necessary)