Around these parts, we’ll do our best to give you everything you need to know about the Columbus Blue Jackets. We’ll also fill you in on the stories you may not have heard about (or those you didn’t think you need to know about), the social media buzz around the league, along with a few random nuggets for good measure.
Think of it as your morning coffee with a shot of hockey talk.
ROAD-HOME, HOME-ROAD In the first round of this Stanley Cup playoffs tournament, it seemed as though home teams were willing to stake their claims and force opponents to get risky and play a different game on the road in order to get ahead. In the second round, the shoe is on the other foot; we have series in both conferences that are 2-2 and changing cities, but one is particularly interesting for how it's unfolded.
In the West, we have the thrilling series between the Anaheim Ducks and the Edmonton Oilers. The Ducks fell behind quickly, dropping the first two games at Honda Center and feeling like they were heading to Rogers Place in deep trouble. All they did was win both games in Edmonton and shift the series back to Anaheim dead even, giving them home ice advantage in a best-of-three series beginning tonight.
Over in the East, it's more of the same, just the opposite. While the Penguins seem to be in control of their series against the Capitals (despite the shenanigans), the Rangers and Senators are battling it out in reverse fashion to the Ducks and Oilers. Ottawa won the first two games at Canadian Tire Centre and had a firm grasp on the series as it moved to Madison Square Garden, BUT...
The Rangers won both games at MSG and have the series squared up at 2-2 going back to Canada's capital. If anything else, it's just more hockey!
STAR-STUDDED ANTHEM LINEUP: If you're in Music City, it's probably a good idea to have a strong arsenal of anthem singers to get your playoff run started. Thankfully the Nashville Predators have been up to the task. They're straight bringing the heat so far.
First, it was country music icon and First Lady of the Nashville Predators, Carrie Underwood:
Then, it was Little Big Town:
And earlier this week, country legend Vince Gill sang The Star Spangled Banner with his two daughters. Gill wore jersey No. 56 in honor of injured Predators forward Kevin Fiala, who broke his leg earlier in the series and is out for the season.
CROSBY'S STATUS: After absorbing an ugly cross-check from Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen in Game 3, Sidney Crosby was diagnosed with another concussion and the vibe became tenuous around the Penguins. How would they get by without their best player? How long would he be out? How would he recover from this latest head injury?
In Game 4, they were just fine, shrugging off a second period rally from the Capitals and getting a clutch power play goal to claim Game 4 and head back to D.C. with a 3-1 series lead. Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan said Thursday morning that Crosby was skating on his own in full gear and is listed as day-to-day...which is a pretty encouraging sign for the Penguins. Whether he's healthy enough to play Game 5 remains to be seen, but the fact that he's cleared to skate is a step in the right direction.
ICYMI: The IIHF World Championship begins today in Cologne and Paris, and Blue Jackets prospect Dean Kukan is officially part of his home country's team ... Another Columbus prospect, Daniel Zaar, is reportedly entertaining offers from teams in the Swedish Hockey League for next season ... Our countdown of the Top 10 Blue Jackets moments of 2016-17 continued yesterday with John Tortorella's 500th career win ... Today, you'll see a look back to Matt Calvert's memorable night on Nov. 18 vs. the Rangers.
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