Alright, who’s ready for the NHL Stadium Series? Tonight, we got two teams going at it in the Detroit Red Wings, who are looking to snap their eight-season playoff drought, and the Columbus Blue Jackets, a hockey team that has inspired all sports fans.
Initially, this game seemed like it was all about seeing the Jackets play in an outdoor game for once, but now, there are potential playoff implications. Nobody is a bigger threat to the Red Wings right now than Columbus, and if the Blue Jackets get it together relatively early in this one, the Wings are in trouble.
But, does Columbus have enough in them to make it two in a row against Detroit? Let’s go over the advantages that each team brings to the table along with some disadvantages, and we’ll see just who will emerge from the Stadium Series victorious.
Advantages for the Red Wings
The Red Wings have more experience than the Blue Jackets, who factor in as one of the youngest teams in hockey. Such hostile atmospheres are nothing new to veterans like Patrick Kane, Vladimir Tarasenko, and Cam Talbot - assuming he’s in the net, just to throw a few names out there, and it’s a trio that will keep its cool regardless of how high the stakes get.
Since Todd McLellan took over, the Red Wings also aren’t so dormant when they have the puck. No, I wouldn’t call them consistent when they’re in the offensive zone just yet, but the Wings have clawed their way to 19th in the league with 170 goals scored as of Friday night.
The trio of Alex DeBrincat, Lucas Raymond, and Dylan Larkin have led the charge during this time, and on the big stage and under the lights, they’ll be at the top of their respective games for this one. With a weak Blue Jackets defense and goaltending, these three will be a nightmare to deal with.
Where the Red Wings are weak
The Red Wings lost momentum heading into the 4 Nations Face-Off and they haven’t gotten in it back. If there was ever a game to go into with some confidence, it’s this one, since that crowd of 90,000 at the Horseshoe’s going to be about as friendly as they are when the Wolverines are in town.
Defensively, they’re up-and-down, and that’s putting it lightly. The Wings have allowed 21 goals in their last five games, even if they allowed just 27.8 shots on goal in that span. By now, we know the Blue Jackets have built an identity as a team that will rack up the goals.
Detroit also has a bad PK unit, with a meager PK percentage of 70.00, or about 8.44 less than the league average as of Friday night. While the Blue Jackets power play isn’t great, it’s good enough to knock around the Red Wings.
Advantages for the Blue Jackets
Scoring is what sets the Blue Jackets apart and they’re currently one of the NHL’s top teams when they have the puck. Plus, they already showed that they can score at will on the Red Wings, putting up five goals on Thursday.
Because the Blue Jackets built a lead on Detroit after they initially allowed the first goal and refused to look back, it’s clear they got the Wings figured out. They’ll also have the home crowd at their backs, and about four times more people in the stands than they’ll see at a typical home game, even if some Red Wings fans will make the trip.
While they’re not great at forging high-danger chances, the Blue Jackets make the most of them, having converted 10.3 percent of them at 5-on-5, substantially more than the 8.7 percent we’ve seen from the rest of the league.
Where the Blue Jackets are weak
If the Red Wings are enjoying a good evening with the puck, I’m cringing at the Blue Jackets chances of winning this thing. Columbus has an overall save percentage of 0.889 and it makes them a one-dimensional hockey team.
Also, they can’t afford to struggle through a bad night offensively. While Columbus is already in the 200-goal club and they’ve converted a staggering 11.5 percent of their shots, they don’t give themselves the most opportunities. They’re below 50 percent in Corsei For, Scoring Chances For, and High-Danger Chances For.
The Verdict
While these two teams are heading into this one with 66 points apiece in 59 games, the Blue Jackets currently have momentum, the home crowd, and a team that just won’t stop scoring. Recently, the Red Wings have stagnated one too many times for my liking, so I’m saying the Blue Jackets avenge Ohio State’s loss to Michigan back in November and take it, 5-3.