Not much can be said at this point. While the Jackets are not yet eliminated, their play so far against a much more talented opponent does not give much reason for optimism. Detroit has significantly out-hit the Blue Jackets, allowing them to command the flow of the game even more than a team this talented would. Although no goals were scored by the CBJ on Saturday it could be argued that the Jackets played a more complete game, but so did the Wings, and therein lies the problem…
The Red Wings have gotten every single bounce and call through two games of the series. Three of the eight goals scored by the Wings have been redirects off of a Blue Jackets player, and all of those have come at big moments in the games. Four of the eight goals scored by the Wings have come on the power play of which Detroit has received 14 opportunities to the Blue Jackets 7 chances (If my math is correct). The Jackets do tend to play a more wreckless-type of game, but having twice as many power play opportunities should raise some kind of red flag to the officiating of this series, and doesn’t help dispute the NHL’s bias against expansion teams/conspiracy to keep the Original 6 teams in the playoffs as long as possible.
To get things going at home the Blue Jackets need to play nearly mistake free. There can be no more sloppy passes, missed open nets, and someone besides Nash, Umberger, Voracek, Klesla, and Mason needs to have an outstanding game. The Red Wings are better, I’ll admit it, thats why it will take nothing less than a Herculean effort to right the ship on Tuesday night.
Speaking of Tuesday night, it has been circulating on message boards and blogs, but there is an unofficial call out to form a UNION OF BLUE, which means wear Blue! No White Jersey’s, no Scarlet and Gray, especially no Red jerseys, but wear your Blue Jersey’s, T-Shirt’s, whatever you have that is colored Union Blue, it needs to be worn. Please pass this on to anyone you know attending Tuesday’s game.
