Columbus Blue Jackets-Detroit Red Wings: Pregame Thoughts

The Columbus Blue Jackets hit the road for five games. Their first opponent? The NHL-leading Detroit Red Wings.

Let's just say the cards aren't exactly stacked in their favor as they try to break out of a three game slump. The Wings have lost four in a row. The are the second highest scoring team, have given up the least amount of goals, and are surely looking at the Jackets as a slumpbuster.

So now what for the Jackets? They couldn't beat the two worst teams in the Western Conference at home so exactly what chance do they have against the league's best team?

I will say this: It's a fickle league. The Wings have been on cruise control most of this season. The Jackets tend to play better against teams ahead of them in the standings (which is a real problem that needs to be seriously addressed this offfseason).

As optimistic as I'd like to be though, it's hard not to prepare for the inevitable. The Wings have won two of three this season.

Keys to Lighting 'Em Up

Outside of maybe Gilbert Brule and Dick Tarnstrom, everyone on this Jackets roster has to play better. MUCH better in fact. Brule and Transtrom have plenty of room to improve as well. If they play like they did against Chicago, the Wings will throw up double digits on that scoreboard.

Datsyuk, Zetterberg, and Lidstrom. Those three make the world churn for the Wings out there on the ice. Jackets probably won't stop them entirely but they can't let them dominate either.

Leclaire should be back in nets tonight and not a moment to soon. Need big saves tonight. He needs to be the best player for the Jackets to have any shot at points.

Nash. Can't play the invisible man.

SCORE FIRST!

Simple hockey. Jackets can't out-skill the Wings—hell, they can't out-skill anyone. What they can do is outwork teams. That means everyone, including all the vets who decided to take the night off against Chicago.

Somebody has to step up and replace physical play that Jared Boll brings since he's out for the second straight game. It's absolutely disgusting how soft the Jackets are when this rookie is out of the lineup. Unacceptable.

Need some bounces/breaks. Teams that work the hardest usually catch the most breaks.

Rafalski, Cleary, Kronwall, and Hasek are all out of the lineup. Those are some strong players out that the Jackets can take advantage of.

The Jackets are clobbered in every statistical category by the Wings other than PK—the Wings are eighth, the Jackets third. They will have to live off it tonight. Although the powerplay is showing signs of life again moving up to 19th in the league.

Game Spotlight

Pascal Leclaire. He's back in the lineup and has got to be the go-to guy for the Jackets.

I'll be going up to Detroit for this one in person tonight. It's my first time at the Joe and I'm hoping this team at least puts a competitive effort out there. I'll be honest, I am going into this game expecting the worst and hoping for the best. It's a crappy attitude to have, but with the way this team has been playing since the All-Star break it's reality.

Regardless I'll be rooting the boys as always. GO JACKETS!

-LTL