When Blue Jackets Forward Nick Foligno beat Penguins Goaltender Marc Andre Fleury glove side in overtime of Game 4 at Nationwide Arena, the Columbus Blue Jackets fan base went into pandemonium.
Jackets fans had been waiting over 14 years for a home playoff win. When the red goal light flashed signifying the game winner, the crowd noise from the 19,000 fans in attendance was so deafening that you could hardly hear the goal horn. Josh Yohe, the Pittsburgh Penguins beat writer for the Tribune Review stated on Twitter that, “The atmosphere in Columbus was incredible. Probably the loudest arena I’ve ever experienced.”
It is not just the fans inside of Nationwide that are enjoying the ride of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The entire city of Columbus is embracing the team. According to The Columbus Dispatch, Games 3 and 4 were the highest-rated Blue Jackets broadcasts of all time.
If you drive by the Nationwide building in downtown Columbus at night, you’ll see “Let’s Go Jackets” brightly lit. Restaurants, homes and businesses all over the city are proudly bearing Blue Jackets flags from their establishments.
“People have waited a long time to have this satisfaction,” stated Nick Foligno, the Game 4 hero. “There’s a buzz in the city and it’s amazing.”
“This city and the fans of Columbus have waited a long time for some victories in the postseason,” said Jackets young superstar Ryan Johansen. “The way our team has played and the resilience that we’ve shown in the playoffs against a great team has made them proud to have us as their professional team in Columbus.”
Ohio State football certainly cements its footprint with Columbus sports fans each Fall. The Blue Jackets would love nothing more than to captivate the city every Spring during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
For ongoing discussion on the Blue Jackets playoff run, CLICK HERE to visit our Messageboard.