Columbus Blue Jackets are Telling You There’s a Chance
The Columbus Blue Jackets have found their Samsonite and they are here to tell you there’s a chance. Down 3-0 in the best of seven series is the darkest of spots, but with the win tonight, there is hope.
The Columbus Blue Jackets are still alive. With their 5-4 win, the CBJ downed the flightless birds for their first playoff win this year. Scoring came from five different players and nine players recored a point for the deep and balanced Jackets.
The Jackets opened up a 3-0 lead in the first 24 minutes of the game. Following a successful penalty kill of a Nick Foligno penalty 19 seconds into the game, the CBJ were able to control the game.
That is until the 2nd period that the Penguins have dominated in the series. Pittsburgh scored two in the second frame to draw the score to 3-2. It was a scene that seemed all too familiar for the Jackets. But game four was to be a different story. William Karlsson scored just 27 seconds into the 3rd period. The CBJ held off another late push by the Pens and ensured the series would go to a fifth game.
There is a Chance
Yes there is historical precedent for 3-0 NHL playoff comebacks. Recent history at that. In 2010 the Philadelphia Flyers came from behind to defeat the Boston Bruins in the Easter Conference Finals.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Just three years ago the Los Angeles Kings beat the San Jose Sharks in seven games after losing the first three. That comeback spurred the Kings to the raise Lord Stanley’s Cup a few weeks later.
Sure, only 2.2% of all teams that have been down 3-0 came back to win the series. But that is better than any of the other major sports.
The Columbus Blue Jackets are also playing well despite the series tally. They are out shooting and possessing the Penguins. They also have got to this point with a below average Sergei Bobrovsky in net.
With better play from Bob, the Jackets are on the verge of putting a few wins together. They only need three more, and one of those will be back at a rocking Nationwide Arena. If they stick to John Tortorella’s season long message “one day at a time”, the Jackets have a chance.