Such mixed emotions tonight. My heart aches for what might have been, but celebrates because of the amazing things this team was able to accomplish this season. The shortened season causes me to believe there should be another game coming up in a couple nights. The next five months will be painful without Blue Jackets hockey, but there is no doubt in my mind that the team's leadership will give us even more reason to celebrate the Home Opener when it does roll around.
As petty as this may seem, as I watched the seconds tick off in the Minnesota game, I couldn't help but think of the disallowed goal vs. Chicago way back towards the beginning of the season for "incidental contact", as it ultimately cost the Jackets a point in the standings, the point that would have clinched us a spot tonight. Very unfortunate that a blown call such as that would have been the difference at the end of the day. Good officiating matters, and while I have to accept what happened now just as I did the night of the game, that is one call that will remain as engrained in my memory like the too-many-men call in Game 4. Brutal.