Columbus Blue Jackets vs Washington Capitals in Round One

The Columbus Blue Jackets will end the season in the first wild card slot and take on the Washington Capitals.

The series is set. The Columbus Blue Jackets will take on the Metropolitan Division Champs, the Washington Capitals, in the first round of the Stanly Cup Playoffs. The series will start Thursday in D.C.

The Jackets entered Saturday with the possibility of either finishing third in the Metro or in the first wild card. The loss to the Predators saw the Philadelphia Flyers jump the Jackets. The Flyers win and Jackets loss set up a Flyers vs Penguins series that the NHL was dying to see.

Folks in Columbus are split over whether or not the Capitals draw is more favorable draw than playing the Pittsburgh Penguins. Either present different challenges but the Jackets have a better chance of knocking out the Caps.

Columbus Blue Jackets

The CBJ are still dealing with some major injuries that could hold the team back. Captain Nick Foligno is still out and could be for another week. Markus Nutivaara is also injured and there has been no timetable set for his return.

Washington is dealing with a major crisis in the net and it will be a big storyline to follow in the upcoming weeks. Braden Holtby has played terribly down the stretch and has forced the hand of the Caps coaching staff. The Caps have sat Holtby and started backup Philip Grubauer 10 out of the final 16 games.

Never before have these two teams met in the playoffs. Of course, the Columbus Blue Jackets short post season history has only seen them face two different opponents. The Jackets are 1-3-0 this season against the Capitals although they won the last installment of this series.

Over the next few days we will be breaking down every aspect of this matchup from position comparisons, historic breakdowns and predictions.

Next: PLD: Agitator of the Future

82 games have passed by and the regular season has got the Jackets to the dance. Time for the most exciting postseason in sports.