Dont feel bad its a long lonely road to the top.

Posted by AxeMaster9 on 04/18/09 at 11:20 PM ET

...watch the boys talk about the game.

What the boys failed to mention is the fact that the Wings third and fourth lines owned the BJs when they were on the ice tonight. There were at least two occasions when the Wings fourth line was caught on the ice in their own zone when Nash’s line came out, and the BJs still couldn’t hold the puck in the zone. You can’t win a series like that.

I have great respect for Nash, but he’s been a complete non-entity in this series. He’s credited with seven shots on goal through two games but I’m hard pressed to remember one time any of those shots meant anything. Those two hat tricks he scored in the regular season against the Wings must seem like some far distant memory to him right now.

As for the effect the Columbus crowd will have on Game 3, I wouldn’t count on it affecting the Wings any. They’ve been there. Heard that. Ignored it...many time before.

But it’ll be fun to see what happens...especially if the refs allow each BJ to carry two sticks all night.

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 04/18/09 at 11:31 PM ET

Oh the joys of playoff hockey. 

This is just a taste of it. Imagine this kind of a$$-kicking in, say, the Stanley Cup Finals; that will scar childhoods. I still hate New Jersey because of 1995. And you will hate the Wings for a long time to come.

Welcome to the dark side; embrace the power of hate.

Posted by Osrt on 04/19/09 at 12:07 AM ET

Welcome to the dark side; embrace the power of (playoff) hate.
Posted by Osrt on 04/19/09 at 01:07 AM ET

Word.

Posted by calquake on 04/19/09 at 12:47 AM ET

we were in a similar position against sharks in 06. i rememberd the big hit by torres on milan michalek that changed the momentum of the series may be he can do the same against detroit. howz torres and williams relationship. i was at the game when he nailed him on the ice unconcious. i miss torres in edm.

Posted by MacT suck from oil country on 04/19/09 at 03:33 AM ET

The Wings owned them in every aspect. It wasn’t even a game. It could’ve easily been 6 or 7 - 0 had they kept it on hard for the entire third.

The BJs were terrible in every way imaginable. When Dorsett raised his hands I was embarrassed for him because he clearly did not score. I was thinking to myself, “That’s how bad this game has gotten, that they’re trying to celebrate like they scored in order to convince people that they did.” They could barely enter Detroit’s zone onside. Vermette and Voracek were terrible. Nash looks lost—clearly a guy that’s in his first post-season. Lidstrom and even the diminutive Rafalski are handling him with relative ease, and let’s be honest, of Nash gets Rafalski one-on-one, there’s no excuse to let Rafalski out-muscle you—Nash is twice his size. And worst of all? Mason looks overwhelmed, tired, and cranky. Gave up a super softy to Hudler. And the likes of Cleary, Holmstrom, and Franzen appear to be in Mason’s head. It was supposed to be the other way around.

Just like last season in all four Detroit series, the BJs appear to be surprised at how the Wings have done a 180 from the regular season and ratcheted up their hitting game. The Wings don’t hit in the regular season—they save the energy and wear and tear for the playoffs. And you can see the shock on the BJs faces when they get absolutely plastered by Datsyuk, or even Filppula threw a few solid hits yesterday.

Posted by Nathan from Jonny Ericsson's ice cream truck on 04/19/09 at 07:55 AM ET

This series can still turnaround.  Wings were up 2-0 against Nashville last year and Nashville won the next two.

It will take a huge effort from Columbus, but it can be done.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 04/19/09 at 07:58 AM ET

Bethany, your post yesterday is your finest to date.  You’ve captured the feelings of playoff hockey well.  And you will get used to being an emotional wreck, barely.

The BJs are clearly frustrated by the Wings’ puck possession style.  And our butts in front of the net are beginning to make Mason go crazy.  We are in the BJ’s heads now.

I think the BJs will take one at home.  Unless Ozzie has a Hasek-like meltdown, the series should end in 5 games.

Oh and Beth, try sacrificing neighbourhood pets to appease the Hockey Gods, we are.

Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 04/19/09 at 09:33 AM ET

As for Blue Jackets fans looking for an octopus alternative, I would never want to encourage irresponsible behavior ... but eel is a natural predator of the octopus. And Frank’s sells them. Buy one, get one free.

Posted by STRPHEN on 04/20/09 at 07:54 PM ET

It’s not too late to come to our side, Bethany… c’mon, the ice is cool…

Posted by Hippy Dave from San Francisco by way of Detroit on 04/20/09 at 09:59 PM ET

Cainer - I don’t think we dominated the first 10 minutes, we played better five on five, but well, you saw the score.

OTC - Oh Jake Voracek, he was really lucky he didn’t get a penalty.  I am really anxious for the game tomorrow, maybe the Jackets will get a win for my birthday?

Orst - Oh I know, my Wing hate has grown quite a bit, even to the point where I avoid friends who are Wings fans. 

Nathan - I don’t know that Mason looks overwhelmed, I think it’s more of pissed off that he’s not getting any help with anything really. 

Paul - I agree that anything can happen, especially with games 3 & 4 at home, but the Jackets HAVE to play smarter hockey

Voox - Thanks, I am slowly getting used to this, I still love it, I’m not going to lie.  I am really hopin that the Jackets get 3 & 4, but we just need to focus on one game at a time.

Stephen - I’m not sure how I feel about the eel lol.

Posted by Bethany on 04/20/09 at 10:22 PM ET