re: #191 ObserverArt

Sorry, have to gloat a bit. Columbus Blue Jackets NHL hockey team just clinched a playoff spot and at the moment are in 7th in the east.

Two more season games might even get us up to 6th. Good scrappy team, and if they get all the players healthy, they will give whoever (Boston?) a good set of games in the first round.

You’re wrong, I’m afraid. The Blue Jackets are number 8, the Red Wings are number 7. And their shootout loss to the Penguins gives the Red wings their 91st point, as compared with 89 for the Blue Jackets. (See below for correction.)

With three games left, Columbus only needs one more win to clinch a spot, but they’ve not clinched it as of tonight. They’ll get their chance on Friday, but they’ll have to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning to do it.

And expect Tampa Bay to play to win. Tonight’s losses by the Red Wings and the Montreal Canadians (the latter to the Chicago Blackhawks!) mean that Tampa Bay will face Montreal in the first round of the playoffs. But who has home ice is yet to be decided, giving key importance to the Blue Jackets / Lightning game for both teams.