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Columbus Blue Jackets Eliminated by Stanley Cup Champions. Again.

By Lansing Murphy

COLUMBUS, OH - APRIL 23: Mark Letestu #55 of the Columbus Blue Jackets shakes hands with T.J. Oshie #77 of the Washington Capitals and Nicklas Backstrom #19 of the Washington Capitals after the end of Game Six of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 23, 2018 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Washington defeated Columbus 6-3 to win the series 4-2. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mark Letestu;T.J. Oshie;Nicklas Backstrom
COLUMBUS, OH - APRIL 23: Mark Letestu #55 of the Columbus Blue Jackets shakes hands with T.J. Oshie #77 of the Washington Capitals and Nicklas Backstrom #19 of the Washington Capitals after the end of Game Six of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 23, 2018 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Washington defeated Columbus 6-3 to win the series 4-2. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mark Letestu;T.J. Oshie;Nicklas Backstrom /
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For the second straight year the Columbus Blue Jackets were eliminated by the eventual Stanley Cup Champions, the Washington Capitals.

I don’t know if it should make fans of the Columbus Blue Jackets feel better, but tonight, the Caps win should help ease the pain of another first round knock out. Knowing that the Jackets fell to the eventual Stanley Cup Champions has to help just a little.

Right?

To some, nothing will ease the hurt that comes from once again not advancing past the 1st round. To some, there is no soothing aloe for being the only team to have never have won a playoff series. But to most, it will help them sleep a bit easier knowing that the Columbus Blue Jackets, for the second straight year, have fallen to the eventual champions of the hockey world.

The Jackets were the toughest challenge for the Washington Capitals in their run to the Cup as well. Sure, the Tampa Bay Lightning took the Caps to seven games, but the Caps dominated the series. Washington could, and should, have won every game in that Eastern Conference Championship.

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The Capitals arch nemesis, the Pittsburgh Penguins, took the eventual champs to six games Just like the Jackets did in their first round matchup. But the Pens only forced one overtime game in that series, a game six loss. The Jackets and Caps played to an incredible four overtime games, including a season saving double overtime game.

The Caps took advantage of a lucky bounce in game three to avoid being down 3-0 to the Jackets in the first round. Lars Eller somehow netted a goal off of an odd bounce in double overtime to get the Caps their first playoff win of the year and they never looked back.

Who knows what happens if that puck doesn’t bounce off Eller and Zach Werenski into the goal. Or what happens if the Jackets don’t give up a 5-on-3 goal in the second period.

It was a well deserved series win for the Capitals over the Jackets to be sure. I am in no way saying the Caps “lucked” their way into winning that series. The Jackets had their chances.

But the Jackets had enough chances that CBJ fans have to be asking themselves, “What if they had won game three or four? What if the Jackets draw one fewer penalty? What if……”

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For the second straight year though the Columbus Blue Jackets have been knocked out by the team that eventually raised Lord Stanley’s Cup. This Jacket’s team time is close to breaking through. It’s just a matter of time, or finding a more favorable matchup in the first round for this team to make a playoff run.

Right?

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