Get ready, Columbus. Hockey's best time of the year will be coming back to the capital city.
By virtue of their
shootout win Friday night against the New York Rangers
, the Blue Jackets have clinched a third consecutive Stanley Cup Playoffs berth.
"I'm proud of them, not just tonight in finding a way to win in a crazy game, but just how they've handled themselves throughout the year here," head coach John Tortorella said. "We're going to have fun here. … We've been through a lot together as a team, and playoffs is the greatest time of the year and you better enjoy it. We're going to try."
Though the team's opponent still remains to be seen -- currently, as the second wild card, the Blue Jackets are matched with Presidents' Trophy winner Tampa Bay, though Metropolitan Division champion Washington remains a possibility depending on Saturday night's play -- that's a story for another day. For now, the Jackets have won six of seven games to assure postseason hockey will be back in Nationwide Arena.
PLAYOFF TICKET INFORMATION | FILL OUT YOUR BRACKET
CLINCHED! Blue Jackets are postseason bound for third straight year
Columbus will make fifth appearance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs
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Foligno on clinching a Playoff spot