The musings of an eternal optimist…with 69 down and 13 to go, did you realize that if the Jackets go off the sheet, wire to wire, to the promised land…go a mighty 13-0 to finish up the regular season that they’ll be at a nice, even 100 points for the season? Surely that must count for something in this fight to the finish in the Western Conference.
Dressing room cliche here, but the boys have to take it one game at a time. The time is now. Win this one, by any means necessary.
The home stretch starts tonight on home ice against the Detroit Red Wings. The optimist will remind you that although the Jackets are 1-9-2 in their last dozen against the Motor City boys, it’s not that bad. No, not at all! In fact, the Jackets have won two out of their last three against the Wings. Steve Mason‘s shutout at the Joe on February 4th enabled the Jackets to get their only regulation win against Detroit in that 12 game span. But let’s not forget a 3-2 shootout win on January 14th at Nationwide. The Jackets are on a roll!
The Wings enter tonight’s contest as the front runner in the Central Division and currently seeded second in the West. The Wings have not been playing spectacular hockey of late. They are 5-3-2 in their last ten, but last night they beat the red hot Washington Capitals 3-2 in Detroit. Afternoon speculation was that Joey MacDonald would get the start in goal tonight for the Wings. The Jackets popped five off of him in a shootout loss on January 15th.
Thirteen games to go in the regular season. Including the word “regular” implies that the optimist expects playoff hockey. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Cheer loud. Piss off your neighbors.
CARRY THE FLAG!