"Just to be a part of history," said Maloney, a 37-year-old from Lancaster clad in a Rick Nash sweater. "The history of the city."

In some jaded NHL towns, fans are blase about first-round games.

But this is Columbus.

And for fans who remember years of Checkers and Golden Seals and Owls and Chill minor-league hockey, and of seven mostly dismal Blue Jackets seasons before this one, this was special, despite Detroit's soon-to-be 3-0 series lead.

A record 19,219 fans jammed Nationwide Arena.

Of course, it wasn't all about hockey last night. The Columbus Clippers were playing next door at Huntington Park before a hardy 6,143 fans. Plus there was the sold-out No Fear Energy Music Tour show at nearby LC Pavilion.

So the chilly weather that veered from sunshine to a blustery rain didn't dampen the festivities of the crowds milling in the Arena District.

An hour before the hockey game, the plaza in front of Nationwide Arena was packed with hundreds of fans waiting in line for Blue Jackets flags or getting their faces painted, or sucking down $5 beers.

Many people came early.

Ticket buyers were waiting in line for hours for 250 Huntington Green Seats at $20 each.

James Paine arrived at the arena box office at 7:30 a.m. Paine, 32, of the Far West Side, is a Wheeling, W.Va., native who rooted for the Pittsburgh Penguins. He became a Jackets fan when he moved here five years ago, and took a lot of grief from hometown buddies.

"Now I can say they're in the playoffs," he said.

Traffic in the area didn't seem to be much of a problem, and at rush hour to boot. Columbus police Lt. Tom Henterly said he had a normal hockey night traffic detail, with four extra county deputies.

"Everyone's going to have to understand they're going to sit in some traffic," police spokesman Sgt. Rich Weiner said.

Clippers fans were advised to go online to buy $3 parking vouchers so they wouldn't have to pay fullprices at Arena District garages.

Many of those heading to the Clippers game were season ticket holders with parking passes. Others, such as Craig Ross of Grove City, didn't get a voucher, so he paid $10 to park.

He wasn't upset. "We pay $10 when we go to Cleveland," said Ross, 52.

If anyone was unhappy before the game, it was scalpers outside the arena. It might be playoff time, but few were willing to pay top dollar, not with Columbus down by two games before the start of play last night.

Jamal Clemons of Cincinnati was trying to unload two standing-room tickets, face value $30 each, to Clark Paciorek of Gahanna and Josh Bush of Millersport for $60 each. Clemons quickly dropped the price to $50.

No sale. No way. They said they'd try to buy seats at face value at game time.

The plaza soon cleared as fans rushed in so they wouldn't miss the opening faceoff. Robin White stood on the steps to the deserted area and watched as the game unfolded on the big screen TV overlooking the plaza.

He was hoping to score a cheap ticket. He offered $20 for a ticket. The scalper wanted $40.

He'd wait a little longer.

White, 58 and a retired mail carrier from the East Side, wanted to be at the first home playoff game. It's big-time, he said. For too many years the city was derided as a cowtown.

"Columbus has come a long way," he said.

White continued to watch the game unfold overhead on the big TV. The Jackets quickly fell behind 1-0.

He didn't think he'd be buying a seat after all.

"I'm ready to head home and watch the Cavaliers."

mferenchik@dispatch.com