Pre-game thoughts: Another serving of Wings

All I have to say is thank god the NHL is going away from this division heavy schedule. Back before the lockout seeing the Wings 6 times a year was enough but this 8 times is overkill.

The good news is that the Jackets have been on a role against this Wings team. They've won the past 3 games against them and are 5-3-1 in their past 8.

Who out there remembers the 2005 season when the ingenious schedule makers of the NHL scheduled back2back home games for the Jackets against the Wings -- remember the outcome?

I do b/c they Jackets got absolutely ripped up and down the ice in both contests losing 6-0 and 6-2. Really it was rock bottom - the Jackets looked like a bunch of clowns out there - an ECHL team at best.

If there is one thing about the "Hitch-era" that I love is that the Jackets are now competing against teams like Detroit/Dallas/Colorado and even though they may not win them all, they certainly look like they belong and most games have been tightly contested.

Now just imagine when the gets an upgrade in talent.

I like nothing better than sending those band-wagon Wings fans home with their heads between their legs.

Okay on to the game at hand tonight:

Keys to lighting em up

Keep it going. The Jackets are on a mini-roll here but they go into the Joe tonight on a back2back against the best team in the league who has lost two straight. If the Jackets think they played a good game last night, they'll need an even better effort tonight. Do they have enough left in the tank? I have my doubts personally but again, this team seems to play its best hockey against higher competition.

Norrena. Two solid outings. The team will need a 3rd if it hopes to win this one.

Manny. Can he keep the hot streak going? I tell ya the teams desperately needs goals from players like him. So if he cools off need others to step up.

3 headed monster. Lindstrom-Datsyuk-Zetterberg -- can stop them but can only hope to contain them. Klelsa-Hejda, just keep on keepin on. The rest of the team needs to play these 3 physical.

Speical teams. The Wings light you up on their PP. Jackets have to be smart and stay out of the box.

SCORE FIRST!!

Z played a much better game last night. The teams needs him to keep the motor running. He is the only guy on the Jackets who can control the game on his stick and make the difficult plays off the rush. If Z decides to take another night off the Jackets will be in trouble.

Nash. Don't change a thing. This guy is playing his best hockey right now.

Boll. See Nash.

Game spotlight

Norrena gets another start tonight. How will he perform on the 2nd night of a back to back? How will the Wings respond to a loss on Sunday they should have won?

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Tough one to predict tonight. On one hand I could see this team just getting completely blown out of the building as they may have spent it all last night. On the other hand this team has shown at time this year their mental toughness in winning games no one gave them a chance at.

A win would guarantee a season series win over this team for the first time ever. A loss could open the door for the Wings and with two more games against them could it could snow ball on the Jackets.

Lets see what the boys got left.

GO JACKETS!

-LTL