FOX Sports Ohio to air Columbus Blue Jackets 2014 Stanley Cup First Round Playoff Games
COLUMBUS, OHIO -- The Columbus Blue Jackets will make their first Eastern Conference Stanley Cup Playoffs appearance against Metropolitan Division rival Pittsburgh Penguins starting this Wednesday, April 16th. All of the first four Blue Jackets round one playoff games will be broadcast live on FOX Sports Ohio. If additional games are necessary, FOX Sports Ohio will air them live unless carried exclusively on national television. A complete schedule of FOX Sports Ohio's coverage is below.
FOX Sports Ohio's Blue Jackets broadcast team will continue to provide inside analysis and in-depth coverage. Jeff Rimer and Bill Davidge will call all the action with Dave Maetzold reporting rink-side. Jody Shelley will also continue to contribute to the network's coverage.
Blue Jackets Live, hosted by Dan Kamal and Brian Giesenschlag, will precede every game that airs on FOX Sports Ohio. Immediately following the final horn of all round one Blue Jackets games, FOX Sports Ohio will provide analysis, player interviews, and more in the post-game edition of Blue Jackets Live, presented by IGS Energy.
EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS SERIES COVERAGE ON FOX SPORTS OHIO
Fans are encouraged to visit FOXSportsOhio.com's programming section for channel information.
Game 1 -- Wednesday, April 16th @ Pittsburgh
7:00pm Blue Jackets Live pregame show
7:30pm Blue Jackets @ Penguins
Game 2 -- Saturday, April 19th @ Pittsburgh
6:30pm Blue Jackets Live pregame show
7:00pm Blue Jackets @ Penguins
Game 3 -- Monday, April 21st @ Nationwide Arena
6:00pm HOUR-LONG Blue Jackets Live pregame show
7:00pm Blue Jackets vs. Penguins
Game 4 -- Wednesday, April 23rd @ Nationwide Arena
6:30pm Blue Jackets Live pregame show
7:00pm Blue Jackets vs. Penguins
*Game 5 -- Saturday, April 26th @ Pittsburgh - TBD
*Game 6 -- Monday, April 28th @ Nationwide Arena - TBD
*Game 7 -- Wednesday, April 30th @ Pittsburgh - TBD
*if necessary
Jackets fans seeking additional coverage of their team can tune in to All Bets Are Off with Bruce Drennan on SportsTime Ohio Monday, April 21st starting at 3:30pm. The show will broadcast live from Columbus.
FOXSportsOhio.com coverage
FOXSportsOhio.com writers Zac Jackson and Rick Gethin will be providing both home and away game coverage throughout round one of the Eastern Conference Stanley Cup Playoffs. The website's Jackets writing team, including Gethin, Kamal, Alison Lukan, and Tom Fellrath will also host a live "Rinkside chat" on the site on Thursday, April 17th at 8:00pm.
Fans are encouraged to check FOXSportsOhio.com and the network's social media channels, including @FOXSportsOH on Twitter for updates on Blue Jackets playoff coverage.
April Ratings
Blue Jackets ratings on FOX Sports Ohio saw an increase as the Jackets made their final push for the playoffs. Four or the top six rated games this season were in April. The month's 1.24 HH average is the highest rated month in a full season since February of 2011. The season average rose nearly nine percent over the last eight regular season games.
