The Columbus Blue Jackets won’t just be looking to keep doing the impossible. Their 66-point start in the first 59 games of the year is awesome enough, but could the atmosphere get any better? Day 1 of the Meteorological Spring, at Ohio Stadium, just over a month after their primary tenants took home a national championship?
And against the Red Wings, of all teams? Yeah, those Red Wings. The team from the State Up North, and one that plays not far from Ann Arbor, Michigan, of all places. Oh, and there’s one more detail missing - the state of Ohio’s 222nd birthday.
Yeah, the Blue Jackets first-ever outdoor game coincides with Ohio’s 222nd birthday, and wow, has the time flown by. As an Ohio native, I remember when the state celebrated its bicentennial year back in 2003, and a barn about three minutes from where I grew up got the honor of getting the Bicentennial logo painted onto it to represent my home county.
Ohio’s special day coincides with a momentous time for the Blue Jackets
Yeah, it’s a special time to be an Ohioan and for those out there who follow them, a Blue Jackets fan. The Blue Jackets, who have been constantly overshadowed in Ohio sports by the Buckeyes (but isn’t that the norm for everyone these days?), the Crew, the Bengals, Browns, Guardians, Reds, and Cavaliers.
Almost all of the above teams have won league championships and they have rich histories. Even the Bengals, who at least made a Super Bowl appearance a few seasons back - note that I’m still in shock over having seen the Bengals play in a Super Bowl in my lifetime, as bad as they were while I was growing up.
Even the Browns, who haven’t even won a division championship since 1989 - two years before I was born - have enjoyed more attention than the Blue Jackets. But then again, the Browns had a dynasty once upon a time, if you can believe that.
What I’m getting at is, the Blue Jackets are finally getting another go at the limelight, and the last time I was this excited about them occurred back in 2019 when they upset the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the playoffs.
Opportunity is knocking for the Blue Jackets come the 6 PM hour
Imagine playing in front of a crowd of 90,000, many of whom are part of a rejuvenated fan base against an Original Six team that had a dynasty going for them a generation ago. At a stadium that has seen a lot of success from its team, mind you, and one of the most distinguished in its respective sports league.
Hey, the Blue Jackets might be the least relevant franchise in the NHL that had ever existed in recent memory, but winning tonight could put another dent in that narrative. On Ohio’s birthday, of all days. If they win tonight, it will easily become the most memorable win in the history of this franchise, and one that will also let them take the lead in the wild card race.