Tonight we get our first look at how the Jackets will perform in front of a friendly crowd. The reverse goes for the Wings, who’ll have to keep up the same level of play they established at Joe Louis at Nationwide Arena.

For Columbus, this couldn’t be a more important game. Their playoff hopes dim to a bare flicker if they fall down 3-0, but a win tonight would make it a series, opening the door for Game 4 to level the playing field. Some keys to the game for the Jackets:

The Crowd. The fans are going to be raucous tonight, and the Jackets need to feed off their emotion and enthusiasm.

First strike. They need to crack Chris Osgood early, while the crowd is still in the game, and before the Wings can settle in.

Nash. Rick Nash needs to step it up and be the kind of leader that goes with the “C.” Because the Jackets have the last change, he’ll occassionally find himself without Lidstrom and Zetterberg shadowing him every shift. He needs to have a big night.

No lineup changes tonight for Columbus, the Hitchcock has shuffled the lines.

A win tonight isn’t critical for the Wings, who’d only see something of a loosening of the grip should they loose, but it’s important that they keep the skate to the throat. There’s no need to let the Jackets think they might actually have a shot. Keys for the Wings:

Fourth line. Without the last change, the fourth line is likely to find itself against the Jackets’ top unit and when that happens, Helm and Co. need to be at their best.

Osgood. Oz has been a rock so far in this series, but he won’t have the crowd backing him tonight. The Wings will need him to be on top of his mental game when the derisive chants come from the Columbus crowd.

Eurotwins, the captain. One benefit of Hitchock’s likely strategy of getting Nash away from the Wings’ best defensive players is those same players will be more available to focus on the offensive side of things. As much fun as it’s been to see the third line skate circles around the Jackets, I think the top units doing it tonight instead will be important.

No lineup changes for Detroit.

The Jackets have been playing regular season hockey to this point in the series. Tonight’s the night where they are most likely to elevate their play. The Wings know they have to be ready for that, and if they are, the Jacket’s extra gear won’t be enough.

[Source: OnTheWingsBlog.com]