Columbus Blue Jackets Top Three Most Hated Enemies
#3 – Detroit Red Wings
Although the rivalry has cooled recently due to the Red Wings struggling, the Jackets have battled with that team up north for years. In fact, the Red Wings are the most frequent opponent in CBJ history as the two teams have met 86 times on the ice.
Unfortunately, Detroit has gotten the better of Columbus in most of those matchups. In those 86 games, the Blue Jackets are 31-42-1-12. That .436 points percentage against the Wings is sixth-worst in franchise history.
Aside from falling to them more times than not, Columbus and Michigan sports teams usually don’t get along anyway. The Ohio State vs. Michigan collegiate rivalry is arguably one of the most historic and most-heated of all-time.
Detroit is only about an hour away from Ann Arbor too, so Michigan fans usually root for the Red Wings. Nationwide Arena also sits just miles away from the OSU campus. The campuses (and therefore the NHL franchises) are also fairly close to each other, so it’s pretty common to have the opposing team’s fans try to take over the other’s arena/stadium.
And on top of the amateur history, the Red Wings were not too kind to the Blue Jackets in the latter’s first playoff appearance. In 2008-2009, the defending champs stomped out the Jackets in four games. Columbus didn’t really show any fight until the final game, where they fell 6-5 after Johan Franzen netted the game-winning dagger with less than a minute to go.
If the Blue Jackets continue to have success and the Red Wings find it again, it should be a fun time watching these two teams play.