Blue Jackets Face Penguins in 1st Round of Cup playoffs.

NHL: Winnipeg Jets at Columbus Blue Jackets

NHL: Winnipeg Jets at Columbus Blue Jackets

NHL: Carolina Hurricanes at Pittsburgh Penguins

NHL: Carolina Hurricanes at Pittsburgh Penguins

Hello Everybody. The NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs are just around the corner, And I do just around the corner. And there's one matchup that I know for sure that is etched in stone. 

The Columbus Blue Jackets will face the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the playoffs and there are many people who say this is the matchup that could decided on who wins the Stanley Cup. In the next few minutes you will get the stats form both teams this season. I will also give you some players you need to watch for in this First Round Series. 

                  CBJ                                             PIT                                

                  3.0  [6th]    Goals Per Game         3.4  [1st]

                  2.3  [2nd]     goals against            2.8  [17th]   

                 19.8  [12th]   power play PCT        22.9  [5th] 

                 82.4  [10TH] penalty kill PCT         80.2  [19TH]

So when you look at the stats for the game this looks like a evenly matched First Round Series. Now here's are some of the Players you need to lookout for in this best of 7 series.

For The Columbus Blue Jackets, I have 4 players you need to pay attention to.

Cam Atkinson, He leads the team in Points with 61. He also has 34 goals along with 27 assists. He's a Guy I would want on my team in the playoffs anywhere anytime.

Alexander Wennberg, He leads the team in assists with 45 this season, he also has 13 goals and 58 points this season. If you want to score a goal this is player you want to have helping you get there.

Brandon Saad, he has 24 goals along with 29 assists and 53 points this season. He' another one that Pittsburgh better lookout for.

Sergei Bobrovsky, He has been fantastic in the Net this season. He's 41-16-5 when starting in goal. His Goal Allowed Average is a Fantastic 2.02 Goals allowed Per Game.

Now The Pittsburgh Penguins have a few guys themselves.

Sidney Crosby, He leads the team in points with 88, he also does have 3 goals along with 45 assists this season. So the Blue Jackets better pay close attention to him because he's twice as dangerous in the Playoffs.

Phil Kessel, he leads the team in assists with 46, he also does have 22 goals and 68 points this season. And you know what he's capable of doing.

Evengi Malkin, he has 33 goals this season along with 39 assists and 72 points this season. He can be a guy you don't want to mess with at playoff time.

Matt Murray, He has been excellent in the net this season. His Goals allowed average is 2.41 this season. His record is 32-10-4. That would worry some Pittsburgh fans because of his record in goal this season. But he is somebody I would worry about when he gets the start in Goal.

Now you have seen the Stats and some of the players to watch for. Here's My take, This series is evenly matched and I Love it. But the Matchup I want to see is Cam Atkinson vs Sidney Crosby. Atkinson Has Proven that he can Stop Sid the Kid. But Here's the $64.000 question can he do it in the Playoffs, to that question I say yes because he has proven that during the regular season.

But I will say this, It's a best of 7 so what both teams need to do is score like crazy because you know what Sergei Bobrovsky is capable of along with Matt Murray.

However in the end and I will say this in Closing. I can see this series going the 7 game distance. My Pick is the Blue Jackets in 7 because they have one of the best Goalies in Sergei Bobrovsky and they rank 2nd in goals against.

My Pick the Jackets in 7.