Columbus Blue Jackets Round One, Game One: It’s On

It’s finally here. The puck is about to drop and the Columbus Blue Jackets are 16 wins away from Lord Stanley’s Cup.

The time is upon us folks. Round one, game one of the Stanley Cup Playoffs begins tonight for the Columbus Blue Jackets. If you make it to puck drop without having a drink to calm the nerves, your a better person than I am.

Tonight will mark just the 16th playoff game in franchise history for the Jackets as they start their series against the Washington Captials. This series is going to be tight and has seven games written all over it, but for now lets focus on this matchup.

All eyes will be on number 31 who will be between the pipes tonight for the Caps. Philipp Grubauer will start over veteran and playoff stud Braden Holtby for Washington in a surprise move by coach Barry Trotz. Grubauer has been playing exceptionally well down the stretch for the Caps but it’s hard to take away the crease from a guy like Holtby.

If the Jackets can jump on Grubauer early it will completely rattle the Caps. Confidence in your goalie is key and if the CBJ can get Washington questioning whether Grubauer should be in net or not, it will lead to a win.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Lineups

Columbus Blue Jackets

Panarin – Dubois – Atkinson

Jenner – Wennberg – Vanek

Bjorkstrand – Foligno – Anderson

Dubinsky – Letestu -Calvert

Werenski – Jones

Cole – Savard

Murray – Nutivaara

Bobrovsky

Washington Capitals

Ovechkin – Kuznetsov – Wilson

Burakovsky – Backstrom – Oshie

Vrana – Eller – Smith-Pelly

Connolly – Stephenson – Chaisson

Orlov – Niskanen

Kempny – Carlson

Orpik – Jerabek

Grubauer

The first goal is crucial in any game but more so in this game than any. If the Jackets can rattle Grubauer early, they could steal a win on the road and set themselves up nicely for a first round win.

Next: CBJ vs Caps Series Predictions

It all starts tonight at 7:30 for the Blue Jackets. Strap in folks, the Stanley Cup Playoffs are here.