The time has finally arrived. In their 25th year of existence, the Columbus Blue Jackets get their opportunity to play outdoors at last. This Saturday, they'll take on the Detroit Red Wings in the NHL's latest Stadium Series game, and it's setting itself up to be a real good one.
Unlike a lot of iterations of the NHL's often misguided outdoor game schedule, this will feature a matchup between two hungry, upstart teams; each battling for playoff position. And, the league somehow stumbled into making this game the second half of a back-to-back between these teams, which should throw some extra gas on the fire.
Each team will play a game tonight, with the Jackets hosting the Dallas Stars at Nationwide; and the Red Wings taking on the Wild in Minnesota. Currently, the Jackets and Wings are separated by two points in the standings - Detroit has 64 points and the first wild card seed. Columbus has 62 and sit just on the outside.
This means that the two games these teams play this Thursday and Saturday have critical meaning for both clubs. In fact, it's not a real stretch to say that the four points available to either side, are the most important four points in each club's recent history.
Just as we all expected, right?
Coming into the season on the back of an unthinkable tragedy, the Blue Jackets have been one of the league's best stories this year. Almost everyone picked them to finish dead last in their division - and many thought they would finish at the bottom of the entire league. Instead, they have more than held their own and are giving us 5th Liners exactly what we wanted: meaningful games late in the year.
The Red Wings stumbled out of the gate and looked to be stagnating early. But, GM Steve Yzerman made the wise decision to fire their head coach and replace him with Todd McLellan. Since then (December 26th), the Wings are one of the hottest teams in the league, with a 15-5-3 record.
These two teams, combining with the improving Ottawa Senators, have thrown a massive wrench into the Eastern Conference playoff race that is typically dominated by teams like New York's Islanders and Rangers; and the Boston Bruins - all of whom have fallen off this year.
This one should be a real treat.
Taking everything into account, I don't know how you can't be excited for this game on Saturday if you're a hockey fan. Two hungry teams battling for important points in an outdoor setting that is long overdue. The weather even looks perfect for a hockey game.
The NHL should be very excited, as well. Every year when they scheduled these games a full year out, they always trip over themselves to make sure and include a "large market" or "original six" team. Often, this results in less than meaningful experiences. I may even call some of them a novelty game. A novelty that certainly seems to be wearing off, over time.
I'm not sure they expected the Red Wings and Jackets to be in the positions they are this season. The entire season for both franchises seems to have been building towards this moment, and this game could be one that gives greater meaning back to these outdoor spectaculars.
We should see a playoff type atmosphere in front of 90,000 or so fans at the Ohio Stadium on Saturday. The 25 year wait for our team to be recognized on a national level will be well worth the pay off, if that's the case.