They certainly made it interesting and the never say die attitude showed up in the third period to cut a 4-0 lead to a 4-3 final, but in the end the Jackets just didn’t have the talent that the Penguins have.
Can’t help but wonder how the tight series might have been different if the Jackets didn’t have someone like Jack Skille playing alongside Jenner and Johansen. Obviously, a healthy Nathan Horton would have been nice, but barring that, maybe another player who had lined up for them earlier in the season and scored some goals.
Someone with an offensive pedigree, like say Marian Gaborik?
He certainly could have offered more offense than Matt Frattin and a second round pick did in this series. Or he would have gotten injured and it wouldn’t have mattered. The world will never know.
Still the Jackets have something to build on, and the Nationwide crowds certainly got the attention of the rest of the league. Columbus did itself proud.
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