Game Recap
Thursday night's game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Detroit Red Wings was one of the best, biggest, and most exciting hockey games that I have ever been to in my entire life. The crowd was roaring, the jeers were clever, and the beer was cold. Simply put, I have never seen Nationwide Arena jumping so much in my entire life; the crowd was so into it that for the first time ever (and the second, third, fourth ... 20th) they actually chanted in unison. The Blue Jackets needed a win and the fans came out to get it going and to show respect and honor to their hard working players.
Even though they lost, the Jackets fans gave the team a standing ovation which is exactly what they deserved.
The first period was a roughly equal fare, as both teams hit well and controlled well. Both Detroit and Columbus had a few power plays, and both were able to convert on them. The only area where Detroit dominated Columbus was in shots on goal, and of their shots they were able to convert more. The scoring kicked off when, in the second minute, Detroit's Nicklas Lidstrom scored on the power play. Not to be outdone, Kristian Huselius quickly scored back on Columbus' power play. This quick response was what the crowd needed, as it fired them up. For the rest of the period, Jackets fans were on their feet and cheering loudly. Though both Tomas Holmstrom and Daniel Cleary scored midway through the period for Detroit, the fans didn't really care.
Just like period one, both teams were roughly equal, and each converted on a power play. Rick Nash got his first playoff goal ever in the second minute. Columbus kept on scoring, and tied it up at three when R.J. Umberger scored his third goal in the fifth. But Detroit was not giving up and they quickly regained the lead when Marian Hossa scored twice within five minutes. Though this took the fans out of the game, they were not silent for long. With derisive chants of "Osgood Nogood" in his ears, Detroit's Chris Osgood let in two late period goals, as both Kris Russell and Fredrik Modin scored for the Jackets. For the third time of the night, Columbus had tied the game.
Article comments
1 - Jordan Richardson
That was a pretty good hockey game. I think Columbus learned some valuable lessons in the series and they should come out the better for it. Detroit's a tough team to draw in the first round, that's for sure, and I think they did a decent job with what they had.
2 - Jet
Someday Jordan, we'll justify all that money we spend building them a new stadium too...
3 - Robert M. Barga
@jordan
I think we learned, but i still think that that was a bullshit call by the linesman. Sure, we would have lot in OT, but let us get to it
4 - Robert M. Barga
@jet
um, we didn't spend money as a city, county, or state on the arena
5 - Matthew T. Sussman
"What I really liked, however, was the fact that fans threw beer cans onto the ice after the bad call at the end of the game. This showed a huge amount of desire in the fans"
This part's funny. How can you justify that behavior? Someone could get hurt. Something actually struck Mike Babcock's shoulder and hurt him a little. All because nobody liked the final outcome of the game.
6 - Robert M. Barga
I have absolutly no issue with our fans tossing beer onjto the ice. How is it any different from tossing a random celepod on? Plus, in this case, at least we are not killing hte 4th most intellegent creatue on earth
7 - Matthew T. Sussman
"I have absolutly no issue with our fans tossing beer onjto the ice. How is it any different from tossing a random celepod on?"
It's all idiotic and against the rules. When you throw something onto the ice, you delay the game, you risk injury, and you compromise the quality of the ice.
8 - Jordan Richardson
Yeah, that's pretty ridiculous. No true fan of the game applauds that type of thing and it certainly isn't "desire."
Fans who do that, even the ones who throw the "celepod," (do you mean cephalopod? Couldn't you just say "octopus" instead of getting all fancy?) in Detroit are just ignorant.
9 - El Bicho
seems odd that the proclaimed best team in the NHL from a few weeks back would get swept in the first round. And if you think throwing beer cans on the ice is acceptable, I wouldn't even let you back into the arena, let alone those stupid drunks. Stay classy, Columbus.
10 - Robert M. Barga
rethinking it, i decided that i am a bloody moron. Of course it is not okay to throw anything on the ice but hats after a hattrick. That said, i was more thinking about what it meant to columbus