The Detroit Red Wings wrapped up their series with the Columbus Blue Jackets after handily winning Game 4 of their seven game series. Not many people were giving the Blue Jackets much of a chance in the franchise’s first ever playoff matchup, and the Red Wings didn’t cut them any slack. Detroit walked over the Blue Jackets in their first three matchups, winning all three games by a combined score of 12-2. In Game 4, however, the Blue Jackets were finally able to get some offense together against the Wings.
Detroit jumped out to a 3-1 lead after the first, but Columbus battled back in the second period to make it an exciting third period. Rick Nash opened the scoring in the second, and RJ Umberger tied it only 4 minutes later. Marian Hossa scored the next two goals of the game, putting Detroit up by two with a little less than half the second period still to play. Columbus looked as if they were about to lay down and take the sweep, but two quick goals from Kris Russell and Fredrik Modin tied the game before the start of the third.
The Blue Jackets came into the 3rd period riding a momentum high and enjoying a crowd that had largely been quieted by Detroit’s methodical mastery of the game all series. Unfortunately, as the game appeared headed for overtime after a long period of no scoring, the Blue Jackets were called for a too many men on the ice penalty with a little over a minute left to play. Shortly after, with 47 seconds left in the game, Johan Franzen scored on the powerplay to seal the Blue Jackets’ fate and send them home from the playoffs in their first appearance in franchise history.
Not many were surprised at the outcome of this series, since Detroit was clearly the heavy favorite. In the end, Detroit outscored the Blue Jackets 18-7, with 7 of their goals coming on the powerplay. Unfortunately for Columbus, the Blue Jackets took nearly twice as many penalty minutes as the disciplined Red Wings, and that definitely played a factor in their inability to compete with the precision-like team play of Detroit.