No 'I' In Team: The Key to The Columbus Blue Jackets

The Columbus Blue Jackets only needed one point in Wednesday's game to clinch their first-ever playoff appearance. The fact that they earned both points tells another story.

What's a Stanley Cup playoff without that one 'Cinderella' team that everybody secretly pulls for? Columbus certainly occupies that status as they are the NHL's final franchise to reach the post-season.

As the clock struck zero at the end of regulation Wednesday night in Chicago the Blue Jackets became the 12th team this season to clinch a playoff berth. After battling back from an early 2-0 deficit in the first sixty minutes to force overtime Fedor Tyutin scored the shootout winner to propel the Jackets over the Blackhawks.

If you're a Blue Jackets' fan this was your kind of game.

Rick Nash had a tough first period as he missed on a penalty shot early on and accidentally redirected David Bolland's into his own net in the final minute. The captain then set up Antoine Vermette for the Jackets' first goal and scored the game-tying marker with 5:30 remaining in the game.

Fedor Tyutin scored the shootout winner after registering 30 minutes of ice-time throughout the game. Jan Hejdareturned played a solid shutdown game after he needed stitches from a high-stick in the first period. Steve Mason was his usual self as he finished the night off with a 23 save performance.

To sum it up the Blue Jackets could have banked the point and coasted off to rest up for Game 1 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals next Wednesday, but they didn't.

This goes to prove the work ethic that coach Ken Hitchcock has instilled in his team. The Columbus Blue Jackets learnt first hand that even after being in last year's playoff picture until early March that it requires a full team effort for a full 82-game schedule. And with many three-point games, there is no margin for error.

"The one thing you find out at this time of the year is that the rest of the world stops," Hitchcock stated as he and his assistants have worked night and day to keep their players motivated. 

"All of the things that people do in everyday life, for us, stops. You spend little or no time with it. You exist. It's like you sleep, you come to the rink, you work at preparing your team, you go home and you rest."

Hitchcock has done a fine job assigning roles to certain players. Fedor Tyutin—a depth defenseman with the New York Rangers for the previous three seasons—was acquired in July of 2008 and has been the team's best defenseman. His 34 points are tied for 5th in Columbus scoring and he logs 23 minutes a game.

Defensemen Jan Hejda and Mike Commodore have also been an integral part of the Blue Jackets' run. Both are playing together on the shutdown pairing and they are a combined plus-32.

The team has had to battle through injury troubles. Veteran Jason Chimera missed a large portion of the season with a groin tear while rookie Derick Brassard suffered a season-ending shoulder injury after posting 25 points in his first 31 games.

Though it may be a stretch, Brassard aims to rejoin the team if they can play late into the first round. Of course the biggest story of the year in Columbus is the emergence of Steve Mason.

Mason, 20, was selected in the third round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft after only playing 12 games in his rookie year with London in the OHL. In 2008 he guided Canada's world junior team to its fourth consecutive championship and capped off his season by winning an OHL title with the Kitchener Rangers.

Mason was also key in replacing starter Pascal Leclaire who finished among the league leaders in shutouts a year ago with nine. The Oakville native leads all NHL goaltenders this season with 10.

In all likelihood the Blue Jackets will finish in sixth place and faceoff with either the Vancouver Canucks or Calgary Flames. If that is indeed the case Jackets' fans might feel pretty confident—Columbus boast a 3-1 record against the Canucks this season while going 2-1-1 versus the Flames.

Even though they have already punched their ticket to their first-ever playoff appearance there is work that needs to be done. The Blue Jackets will have to travel down a long and winding road if they wish to challenge for the Stanley Cup.

Columbus, buckle up. This is where the fun begins.