The second largest audience in NHL history is expected on Saturday night when Michigan-Ohio State rivalry moves to the ice for an NHL Stadium series Matchup between Detroit Red Wings and the values Columbus Blue Jackets at Ohio Stadium.
More than 90,000 fans are projected for the competition containing two teams in the thick in the Eastern Conference Playoff Race. The NHL participant record is 105,491 for Winter Classic 2014 at Michigan Stadium which contained a 3-2 shootout victory by the Toronto Maple Leafs over Red Wings.
Michigan-Ohio State rivalry is considered to be one of the most bitter in college football and has produced the possible national champion each of the last two seasons. The latest matchup on November 30 at Ohio Stadium, which won 13-10 by The Wolverines, contained a brawl after the game when Michigan player tried to plant his flag in the midfield and was confronted by the Ohio State player. The police had to distribute pepper spray in an attempt to stop melee.
So expect that there will be a high -charged atmosphere for Saturday’s competition.
“These are sacred basics in Columbus, so being out here and playing hockey will be nice,” said Blue Jackets Center Sean Coulyly, which grew up in the Columbus suburb Dublin, who participated in Buckeye’s football matches at “The Shoe,” said NHL.com after examining Rink Layout earlier this week.
There will be other half of a home-and-home home between the blue jackets and red wings. Columbus, behind two goals by James van Riems dives and a goal by Coulyry, won the first 5-2 on Thursday in Detroit.
The game has significant consequences for the Playoff Eastern Conference. Detroit, fourth in the Atlantic division, has the first joke card with 66 points while Columbus, fourth in the Metropolitan Conference, also moved up to 66 points with the victory on Thursday and has the second Wild Card place.
“The games are very meaningful,” said the Detroit coach Todd McLellan before Thursday’s loss. “Outdoors only add a lot more drama, but on Sunday when we all wake up, the actual hockey part comes from it – points and what comes out of it – be the most important thing.”
Detroit took a 1-0 lead on Alex Debrincat’s 27th goal for the season 27 seconds into the second period on Thursday, but Columbus responded with four goals in a row, including two of Van Riemsdyk, later during the period. JT Compher lowered the Columbus lead to 4-2 with a Power-play-goal but Kirill Marchenko sealed the victory with an empty Neter with 57 seconds to go.
“We had many chances during the first period and got nothing,” said Blue Jacket’s coach Dean Evason. “Instead of being frustrated, we used it for speed.”
Boone Jenner, who missed the season’s first 56 matches with a shoulder injury, had three assists for Blue Jackets and now has five assists in his first three matches back.
Compher, who had his sixth multi-point game of the season with a goal and an assist, played for the University of Michigan before being prepared by Buffalo in the NHL draft 2013. He said he was looking forward to Rematch at Ohio Stadium.
“(Friday) is the day for fun – ice skating with the family, see the course for the first time and enjoy it,” Compher said. “When we arrive on Saturday it is normal routine. We know what is at stake and how important each point is, so when Saturday comes around it will be about implementing our game plan to the best of our ability.”
-Field level media
