Blue Jackets 4 Lightning 3 (NHL)

[swamprat]

Easter Conference Quarterfinals Game 1.

 

The way the Bolts came out and dominated the 1st period, you think they'd run all over the Jackets. After the breakaway goal by Nick Folingo in the second, I had a bad feeling. Then I had to bed. From what I can gather, in the third, one of the worst special team units in the NHL, during the regular season, overpowered one of the best.

 

As I've said may times, the playoffs are a whole new season.

 

Columbus leads the best of 7 series 1-0. Game 2 is Friday night in Tampa.

[Getslow]

Switched channels to the Pens/Isles game after the first period. I clearly should've tuned back in. Flipped back after it went 3-3 and they broke into coverage.

 

Any idea what happened here, Swamprat? How'd they let things get away from them?

[neilman1234]

For some reason, after the Jackets fell behind 3-0, I kept watching. I'm glad I did. Columbus stabilized in the 2nd period and Foligno's goal gave them life. I think if the Bolts could've put up just one more goal during that time, the Jackets would've folded.

 

Bobrovsky made some terrific saves during the last 2 periods and he regained his confidence as the game went on. Once Savard scored in the 3rd to pull within a goal, you could see the Jackets brimming with confidence. When Anderson tied it up halfway through the period, it was spooky how quiet Amalie Arena was. The silence was incredible and I think that carried over to the team.

 

This was a game that Columbus NEVER EVER EVER wins. Ever. I expect that Tampa Bay is going to come out angry tomorrow night and they'll probably right the ship and win the series. But what if Game One was an event that was the beginning of something special for the Jackets?

 

Can't wait for Game 2.

[swamprat]

Switched channels to the Pens/Isles game after the first period. I clearly should've tuned back in. Flipped back after it went 3-3 and they broke into coverage.

 

Any idea what happened here, Swamprat? How'd they let things get away from them?

 

The Bolts came out on fire, jumped out to a 3-0 lead, then relaxed in the 2nd. You could see the fire wasn't same. Part of that was Columbus, but you could feel something was lacking. I did not see the 3rd period, but was surprised by Columbus's total dominance in special teams. They had the 28th ranked power play unit in the league. The Bolts were #1. From the interviews of Lightning players and coaches I listened to on the way to work this morning, it was Bobrovsky in the 3rd. He made the difference.

[neilman1234]

Brandon Dubinsky earned a double minor for high sticking mid way through the 3rd period, with the Lightning holding the one goal lead. I thought for sure that would be the end of road for the Jackets. Not only did they manage to hold Tampa Bay scoreless, they somehow netted a shorty for the tying goal. Nothing made sense from last night's game for fans of either team. Crazy, crazy game.

[TheDeuce]

I turned this game on and saw it was 3-0 in the first period and never looked back.

[Getslow]

From the interviews of Lightning players and coaches I listened to on the way to work this morning, it was Bobrovsky in the 3rd. He made the difference.

 

Just read an article from the Dispatch and the entire focus was about Bobrovsky turning it around with a stop less than 30 seconds into the second period that looked like it was going to be goal number four for the Lightning. He settled in and shut it down the rest of the game.

 

So much of playoff hockey is about your goalie getting into the zone at the right times. Hopefully for Tampa Bay's sake it was a one-time thing.