It’s true that playoff experience means something. It’s definitely a thing that can tip the scales in an even playoff series. And, no one would argue that the Blue Jackets have a deficit in that area to the Penguins.
Columbus is one of the youngest–if not THE youngest–team in the league. But, that doesn’t mean that their dressing room doesn’t have some playoff experience in it. Let’s take a look.
Playoff Experience – 250 Total Games
Nathan Horton – 43 games
Brandon Dubinsky – 31 games
Fedor Tyutin – 28 games
R.J. Umberger – 26 games
Artem Anisimov – 26 games
Nick Schultz – 24 games
James Wisniewski – 18 games
Nick Foligno – 17 games
Jack Johnson – 12 games
Mark Letestu – 11 games
Sergei Bobrovsky – 7 games
Matt Frattin – 6 games
Jared Boll – 1 game
No Playoff Experience (NHL Games Played)
Blake Comeau – 422 games
Derek MacKenzie – 307 games
Nikita Nikitin – 206 games
Jack Skille – 194 games
Ryan Johansen – 189 games
Matt Calvert – 153 games
Cam Atkinson – 141 games
David Savard – 105 games
Corey Tropp – 87 games
Dalton Prout – 82 games
Boone Jenner – 72 games
Ryan Murray – 66 games
Obviously, a big chunk of that playoff experience may not be playing for Columbus. Horton definitely isn’t playing, Umberger probably won’t play in the series, and Foligno is day-to-day at best. That said, it’s not as if the entire Jackets’ roster is completely green when it comes to the playoffs. In fact, the big chunk of their leadership group has been to the Dance before.
Nathan Horton has played on a Cup team, though his Finals ended just three games in. He played on a Finals team last year, as well. Brandon Dubinsky and Artem Anisimov played on a team that went to the Eastern Conference Finals just two years ago. James Wisniewski has played on playoff teams in two different organizations before coming to Columbus. Mark Letestu got his playoff feet wet with this very Penguins team the Jackets match up against.
So, yes, the Pens hold the edge. But, let’s not completely write off the Jackets as having no idea what to do in a playoff series. They have some players–and some voices–that have been there before.