(Sports Network) - The Blue Jackets didn't have much time to enjoy their first-ever playoff appearance last season. After all, it swiftly ended with a four-game sweep at the hands of the Red Wings.

Columbus seeks a little revenge this evening in its first meeting of the season with Detroit at Nationwide Arena, where Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock will coach his 1,000th career game.

Reaching the postseason for the first time in eight seasons thanks to a franchise record 41-win, 92-point season, the Blue Jackets looked like newcomers in their first-round series with the Red Wings. After splitting six regular-season meetings last year, Columbus was outscored 18-7 by Detroit in the sweep.

After going 3-2-0 with a 2.38 goals-against average versus the Red Wings in the regular season, netminder Steve Mason struggled in that postseason series. The reigning Calder Memorial Trophy hasn't looked like his 2008-09 self this year either, going 7-4-2 with a 3.27 GAA in 13 starts.

He made 24 saves in Saturday's 3-2 win over Carolina, as the Blue Jackets got third-period goals from Rick Nash, Nikita Filatov and Jared Boll to win their second straight game and earn a point in a fifth straight contest (3-0-2).

"We played one period today and got away with it," said Hitchcock. "We played really well in the third period and got a great lift from our young guys."

Columbus continues a four-game homestand tonight meaning Hitchcock will reach his milestone in front of the home crowd, as he is set to become the 16th coach in league history to coach in 1,000 games.

Hitchcock, who led Dallas to a Stanley Cup title in 1999, became the 13th coach in league history to reach 500 wins last season and is 112-101-29 since taking over as Blue Jackets head coach on November 22, 2006.

Detroit will try to avoid a fifth loss in seven regular-season games at Columbus tonight and is coming off a loss to Toronto on Saturday. Daniel Cleary had the lone tally in the Red Wings' 5-1 setback.

Already without Johan Franzen (left knee) and Valtteri Filppula (wrist), Detroit lost forward Jason Williams for an extended period of time because of a broken right fibula suffered versus Toronto.

Chris Osgood struggled throughout the game, allowing all five goals on 28 shots as Detroit had a three-game win streak snapped and fell to 2-4-2 on the road.

"We got to do way better than that. No question about it," said Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock.

Osgood went 2-2-1 with a 3.37 GAA in five games versus the Blue Jackets last year, but had a 1.75 GAA versus them in the postseason.