Bethany, congrats on getting to see some Blue Jackets playoff hockey.  I’m glad that my Wings are finally going to have some games that count towards rivalry against another Central team.  I’m looking forward to a good series and expect your guys to put up a tough test.  Naturally, I don’t think they’ll succeed, but honestly, it’s a huge step forward for an organization that deserves a good turn.

Now, onto this:

The Wings will have to stop Rick Nash, something they have had trouble doing all season.

How about “Rick Nash will have to prove he can score in the playoffs on the best defensive forwards in the game, as well as the best shutdown D-man in all of hockey.”? 

Good luck to your guys, better luck to mine! 

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 04/13/09 at 11:08 PM ET

I really wish I had enough money to go up there...but it’s hard enough affording tickets to the games here! Good question about Boller, there’s no way he won’t play. Also, FILATOV! He scores in his first game, goes to the minors, gets recalled, and scores a hat-trick in his first game back. PLAY HIM!!!  He would be the best addition from Syracuse, no question. If Brass gets back in the lineup, I really think we would have a decisive advantage. Last but not least, hopefully Mason and LaCosta will both be on the roster.

GO JACKETS!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by Alex B. from Columbus on 04/14/09 at 07:40 AM ET

As a Bemidji State alum and season ticket holder to the Beavers, I really feel bad for Murray.  His senior season at Bemidji State, he breaks his collar bone in the season final and has to miss BSU’s first NCAA D-I tournament game.  Now with Columbus, he gets hurt in the last game of the year and may end up missing the BlueJackets first playoff run.

Get well “Weighty” and hopefully you see some playoff action!

Posted by Millsy from Garfield and Bemidji, MN on 04/14/09 at 08:40 AM ET

If Brass gets back in the lineup, I really think we would have a decisive advantage. Last but not least, hopefully Mason and LaCosta will both be on the roster.

Really? You really, honestly think that? Brassard comes back and that’s what puts the BJs over the top?

I mean, he looks like he’ll be a really good player in the NHL for a lot of years to come, but it’s very, very rare a rookie forward, especially one that’s missed the majority of the season, steps right in during the middle of a series and is impactful from the first shift. Especially a guy that’s barely played regular season hockey at the NHL level, let alone playoff hockey.

And that’s before you even consider that in terms of conditioning, both mentally and physically, he’ll be an entire season behind everyone else playing in the series. The advantage is that he wouldn’t have the aches and pains of 82 games, but the other side of that is that it will essentially be like starting from the beginning of training camp, in terms of the speed of the game, fitness level, and mental preparation. Which is tough to do for even the most veteran of players being thrown into the playoffs like that.

Columbus have played the Red Wings very well this year. Between Babcock and Hitchcock, we’re probably talking about the best two coaches in the league. The BJs have the advantage in net, and a team that’s committed to playing completely team defense in all situations. These are reasons the BJs will be competitive in this series, win or lose. Not because of Brassard.

Would his addition help a little bit? I would imagine so, on the power play in particularly. But he is not a series-turner. With or without him, the BJs will succeed in this series based on the same things—team defense and goaltending.

Posted by Nathan from Jonny Ericsson's ice cream truck on 04/14/09 at 12:52 PM ET