If there's anything that can put Wednesday in the rear view mirror, it's what lies ahead.
The Blue Jackets have no choice but to get ready for what's to come.
Remember when we talked a few days ago about them getting help from the teams around them? Well, the latest "thank you" card goes to the New Jersey Devils, who took the Carolina Hurricanes' game in hand and turned it into a brutal regulation loss last night. The Hurricanes could have pulled three points ahead of the Blue Jackets for the final playoff spot in the East, but instead, they're dead-even in games played and only a single point in front.
There's a big opportunity awaiting the Blue Jackets this weekend, and both games are at Nationwide Arena.
The Philadelphia Flyers, one of the surprise teams in the Metropolitan Division, roll into Columbus looking to keep pushing the Pittsburgh Penguins for second place. The Penguins won last night and you know the Flyers will be ready, because there's a big difference between finishing second and finishing third in the division. Just ask the Blue Jackets.
Oh, and then there's the Pittsburgh Penguins.
They and the Blue Jackets have already had two classic tangles this season – neither of which ended favorably for Columbus – but despite it being odd that they haven't yet met at Nationwide Arena this season, this should be worth the wait. Two shootout losses in the books (and a couple of games the Blue Jackets should have won) were indicative that this rivalry hasn't missed a beat, and with as important as this game Sunday is, it should be must-see.
But forget the dramatics and entertainment value. This is the Blue Jackets' best chance yet to make a real charge into the playoff picture. Two wins would be enormous, perhaps season-changing. Two losses could be...back-breaking.
John Tortorella and his players are encouraged if not excited about the way they've been playing and it's resulted in two wins in their last three. The next two will be harder to come by than any games they've played, but a couple of wins would be worth more than any they've racked up.
It's going to be a hell of a lot of fun to see if they're up for it.
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