Playoff expectations

[perfectstranger]

What are your expectations for the CBJ first playoff appearance?  I consider the season a success...we're in the playoffs.  My expectations:

- our boys make some noise
- draw attention for good play
- competitive, close games (NO stinkers!)

Is it wrong that I don't expect them to win?  Forgive me...I live in Cleveland and have learned to 'curb my enthusiasm' regarding my sports teams.    Will be along for every minute of the ride!

Matt

[dharker]

I will be excited if they can take at least 1 game in the Joe and win at least 2 overall.  I'd love to see Nash quiet the nay-sayers and make some impacts on the ice scoring and physically.  I'd like to see Umberger pick up where he left off in Philly and put points up on the board consistently.  Lastly, I'd like to see Tyutin and Commodore make some big plays against the Red Wings' offensive threats.

[Nate]

Obviously I'd love to win the series and march through the playoffs.  However, making the playoffs was a huge step forward and the season is a success.  Even if we don't win the series or the Stanley Cup, I think we need to have a good showing and make sure we don't get rolled.   

I feel your pain about being a Cleveland sports fan.  I'm an Indians and Browns fan.   

[puckhogg]

no it's not wrong...it's realistic...we are playing the defending stanley cup champions who have been in the playoffs forever....i look at the way that the cbj can play,that they can win,,but not knowing how they will play in a playoff atmosphere makes you wonder if they will be overmatched.....we all want them to win and put on a great showing to a national audiance to gain both the respect of the media and possible free agents that will now look at columbus as an up and comng team and not as the only team not to have made the playoffs!!

[firefly118]

If we are in the games, it is a tremendous victory!  There is no reason not to believe that we won't win a game at home, but beyond that, if we are in the games, it is a good deal.  Losing by 1 or 2 goals with a win in the first year will be awesome.

As hogg said, we are earning respect throughout the league.  More importantly, we are sending a signal to all (including F.A) that this team has arrived, and is serious contenders.  That in itself is a big step up, and next year we will be EXPECTED to make the playoffs......thats big guys.

[CORUPTWJ]

I agree with you all.  I have been waiting since they first annouced Columbus was getting a NHL team for us to make it to the playoffs.  I could care less if we loose in the first round, but we made it.  Now with that off our backs, we need to make another run next year and hopefully make even further in the playoffs.

But don't think about next year yet.  We need to focus at the games coming our way.  If we play great, we are going to make one hell of a run and make it what ever team we play work to get the win.  And we have to really work to get the wins as well.

[Nate]

I'd love to see us be the NHL version of lasts years Tampa Bay Rays.  We're hear, might as well win it! 

[v3rs3]

I agree with you all.  I have been waiting since they first annouced Columbus was getting a NHL team for us to make it to the playoffs.  I could care less if we loose in the first round, but we made it.  Now with that off our backs, we need to make another run next year and hopefully make even further in the playoffs.

This is exactly what they are saying about all CBJ fans.  That they don't care, we are in the playoffs.  Doesn't matter what we do now.  No, it does.  We have the talent to go all the way and I really feel they can take it all the way.  Fans need to cheer the Jackets on no matter what.  You don't see the players just going, "Oh well, we're in the playoffs, good enough."  You gotta have faith.

[firefly118]

   No one said we don't support the team!  There is no one who supports them more than me, and to elude to anything else is wrong.  Having faith and supporting your team is great, but it doesn't replace common sense.  We do have talent, and obviously if a few things went this way or that, we could win 2 or 3 games, or maybe upset the Wings, but not likely.  We don't have all the pieces YET, and this is still the NHL's best we are playing against.  It has been a wonderful year, a year in which molds were broken and we proved we belong.  Lets not over exaggerate or put more expectations then should be expected.

I respect the enthusiasm, and love the faith, but lets be realistic.  There is always a chance, there is always a possibility, but probability is a factor also.  Nothing says we have to be satisfied and QUIT, and I don't think any of us or the players feel tat way.  But you do have to be satisfied with achieving a goal, and beyond that is icing on the cake. 

[puckhogg]

i'm with fly on this so you know that one of us is probably sick or at least running a fever !!!

if we lose round 1 it will be a great season...this was a team that was rebuilt from almost scratch and in two years had 92 points and made the playoffs in the most competative year ever in the western conferance...is there room for improvement...yes...is there a reason to expect more...no not this year....is there a reason to think we can beat the wings...yes looking at the way they have played them this year tho it could be a hard fought series or it could be a smacking by the defending champs...like i said before...this in uncharted waters for the jackets.....

but with the commen sense out of the way.....let's go jackets and smack the red hoard!!!

CARRY THE FLAG

[Nate]

Very good points fly and hogg. 

The season has been a success.  But we still should hope for a good showing and not just, hey we got here....yippie.  I think that's the point v3rs3 was trying to make, maybe I'm wrong.

If we lose the series, the season was still a success, I agree.  The framework is laid to be taken seriously now and make strides toward winning the cup.   However, we're in the playoffs, anything can happen once you're in and we have played well vs the Wings this season.

[Nate]

Just want to introduce the new smiley!

 

[perfectstranger]

Apr14 show.  Nice interview with Howson.  Also get to hear the commentator's expectations for our CBJ.  Sounds reasonable to me.

http://radiotime.com/program/p_188796/Hardcore_Hockey_Talk.aspx

   First to use the new smiley??

[CBJfan14]

v3rs3, i think you are taking what everyone is saying the wrong way. everyone here cares and everyone wants VERY BADLY for us to win. And we are going to support the team until the last second and beyond. We are playing a very good team and we are big underdogs. If we do lose to the Red Wings, is the season a failure?? HELL no. i think that is teh point everyone is trying to get across. We LOVE the Jackets and its been a great season regardless of what happens. Can it get better? Yes... but IF we lose. its not the end of the world because this team is on its way UP!!!!!  :woowoo:

[CanadianJacketsFan]

I expect a good series, I expect to play the series of our lives to beat Detroit, if we make it past Detroit I expect us to go far.