Wings vs. Blue Jackets pregame

Not that you need me to tell you this, but it's sorta getting to be that time.

For the men in red:


Holmstrom-Datsyuk-Hossa
Franzen-Zetterberg-Cleary
Hudler-Filppula-Samuelsson
Kopecky-Helm-Maltby

Lidstrom-Rafalski
Kronwall-Stuart
Lebda-Ericsson

Osgood
Conklin (RWC)


Drapes is out, but Cleary appears to be go for launch. Darren Helm has made his return and is going to run down pucks like Tommy Lee Jones chasing down Harrison Ford. Christopher Osgood is your 2009 playoff starting goaltender.

Here's 19 BJ's for you.


Huselius-Malhotra-Nash
Umberger-Vermette-Voracek
Chimera-Peca-Modin
Torres-Williams-Boll

Hejda-Commodore
Klesla-Tyutin
Methot-Russell

Mason (yup)

::::::::::

Matt Saler is clutch with an excellent pre-playoffs write up. (OtW)


The Jackets have the personnel to make this interesting (a sports euphamism for “terrifying”), and it goes beyond young Steve Mason and Rick Nash. Kristian Huselius, Fredrik Modin, Raffi Torres, Jason Chimera, and some others all have it within themselves to wreck havoc, particularly if the Wings don’t flip that much-discussed switch right off the bat. Even if they do flip the switch, they’re in for a challenge.


Matt has the Wings winning in five, after losing the opener.

And because everyone else did it:




Recap late tonight.