Game 1: Blue Jackets Get the Stanley Cup Playoffs Started by Taking on the Penguins in Pittsburgh

The Blue Jackets won 16 in a row at one point this season, finishing just one victory from tying an NHL record for consecutive triumphs. 

There very well may be some symmetry, then, as the playoffs begin. Columbus sits exactly 16 victories from lifting Lord Stanley's Cup, and while they don't have to come in a row, the first chance at one of those wins comes tonight.

Columbus Blue Jackets at Pittsburgh Penguins 7:30 p.m., PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh TV: USA Network, FSO

THE STORYLINE

Here we go.

What might be the NHL's most anticipated playoff series begins tonight in Pittsburgh as the Jackets take on the Penguins. It's a study in similarities if you look at records, as each team won 50 games and finished in the top four in the NHL in points.

Yet, of course, the two teams' playoff fortunes are opposites. Columbus is yet to win a postseason series since its debut 2000-01 campaign, while Pittsburgh has Stanley Cup titles in 1991, 1992, 2009 and, oh yeah, last year. This will be the Penguins' 11th straight playoff appearances since drafting stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin in back-to-back years.

Add in the history between the teams – a six-game playoff series in 2014 has made this regional rivalry a hot one – and this is the NHL's version of Must-See TV.

While this is in some ways uncharted territory for the Jackets, the one thing that adds some normalcy to the equation is the team on the other side. Having played so often against the Penguins the past few seasons, there's a familiarity between the two teams – not to mention a belief in the Columbus locker room that the Jackets can beat the Penguins.

"We're not going to be entirely focused on what they're doing," Blue Jackets forward Cam Atkinson said. "Just stick to our game plan. We've had success playing against them this year. It's going to be fun. These games are going to be absolutely fun to play."

Columbus enters having won just one of its last seven games, a season finale victory against Toronto on Sunday, but the vibe around Columbus is that the finish has little bearing on what is ahead.

"You get in as early as we did, you want to keep your game sharp and your mind sharp, but at the same time you just want to get through those games and get to where we are now," forward Brandon Dubinsky said. "I think Toronto was a big win for us and how we felt these past couple of days, and I think we're excited to get going here against Pittsburgh."

Game 1 is in Pittsburgh, where the Penguins went 31-6-4 this season and beat the Blue Jackets twice. But head coach John Tortorella expects his team to be ready to go when the puck first drops.

"I know the process they've gone through," he said of his team Tuesday. "I have no question that they are ready to play this series."

3 KEYS TO GAME 1

Stay out of the box: As expected given the firepower on the Penguins team, discipline will be key. Pittsburgh had the No. 3-ranked in the league this season, and given how emotions run high in this series, Columbus can't afford to get down a man too often.

Handle Crosby: At 29 and in his 12th season, he's not Sid the Kid anymore, but Crosby is still elite. He won the Rocket Richard Trophy this year with an NHL-best 44 goals, so keeping Crosby under wraps – hello Dubinsky, the master harasser who kept Crosby without a goal in the 2014 series – remains key.

Attack the defense: Pittsburgh is missing Kris Letang while fellow blueliner Chad Ruhwedel is day-to-day. The Penguins' defensive numbers aren't as impressive as the offensive stats, and the Jackets will have to score to win this series.

YOU OUGHTA KNOW

Columbus: Atkinson got back on the scoreboard with Sunday's game winner, one day after enjoying a rinkside view from the bench for the second half of Saturday's loss at Philadelphia. The Blue Jackets' top scorer will have to be at his best in this series, where there could be goals to be had given the Pens' defensive numbers this year. Atkinson had a team-high 16 shots on goal this year vs. Pittsburgh, showing he had chances.  

Pittsburgh: We'd call Ron Hainsey an old friend, but of course, in the postseason, that's a stretch. Still, the Connecticut native spent three seasons with Columbus as a steady defenseman before embarking on stints with Atlanta/Winnipeg and Carolina. What do all of those teams have in common? Not much playoff success, which is how Hainsey became the all-time longest-tenured NHL player without a postseason appearance. Now, with 907 games under his belt, Hainsey is expected to play in his first postseason game tonight. We'd say good luck, but, you know...

THE SEASON SERIES

• Dec. 22, 2016 CBJ 7, PIT 1: Scott Hartnell rings up a hat trick as the Blue Jackets explode for seven goals at Nationwide Arena for win 11 in the team's 16-game streak.
• Feb. 3, 2017 PIT 4, CBJ 3 (OT): The first meeting of the campaign in Pittsburgh ended with Phil Kessel's OT winner, but Columbus fought back from a 3-1 deficit in the third to tie it.
• Feb. 17, 2017 CBJ 2, PIT 1 (OT): Dubinsky (who else?) played the hero, sliding into the slot and scoring in OT to delight the Jackets' home crowd.
• April 5, 2017 PIT 4, CBJ 1: Columbus essentially ceded home ice in the first round with this loss as the Penguins never trailed on the way to the victory in the Steel City.

Penguins Projected Lineup

Pittsburgh dealt with health issues near the end of the year with Evgeni Malkin, Olli Maatta and Trevor Daley, among others, out for a spell. Those three are expected to play, though, while Pittsburgh hopes F Carl Hagelin and D Chad Ruhwedel are good to go soon.

Blue Jackets Projected Lineup

Columbus much like Pittsburgh has an important return to health in defenseman Zach Werenski as well as a group of aggressive forwards that runs four lines deep.