Iced

The Stanley Cup Playoffs came to Columbus for the first time ever tonight. Sure, the Detroit Red Wings were already up on the hometown Blue Jackets two games to none, and anyone taking an objective view knew that the series was probably already over. Still, I wanted to believe.

So did the 19,000+ inside roaring support for the Jackets. Unfortunately, Detroit scored a goal 67 seconds into the game and never looked back. A second goal shortly before the end of the first period cast a pall over the place. While the fans would pipe up until the end, everyone knew that the game was basically over then. The Red Wings are too good and too experienced--they're the defending Stanley Cup champs--to allow the plucky underdogs a comeback.

Was it fun? At times. The excitement leading up to the game, even with the dashed hopes of the first two entries in the series, was enjoyable, and the all-too-brief action before the Jackets fell behind was a sip of what fans of this historically unsuccessful team have wanted for years. OK, so I got more pleasure out of the knowledge that I had a ticket to the first home playoff game in franchise history than I did from the play on the ice, but that's sports for you.