The Columbus Blue Jackets face a challenging week as key players, including star defenseman Zach Werenski, are sidelined due to injuries. Werenski, who ranks third among NHL defensemen with 57 points (17 goals, 40 assists) this season, will miss Tuesday’s game against the Buffalo Sabres. The undisclosed injury occurred during Sunday’s 5-3 loss to the Dallas Stars, where he left the ice in the second period but returned briefly in the third.”We’ll continue to evaluate, same as we do with everybody that’s hurt or injured,” said coach Dean Evason. “We’ll evaluate it and move forward.” Werenski’s absence is a meaningful blow to the team, as he leads the League in average ice time per game (26:48) and is second in goals among defensemen, trailing onyl Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche.
Adding to the defensive woes, Werenski’s partner, Dante Fabbro, is also out with an upper-body injury sustained in the first period of Sunday’s game. Fabbro has contributed 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in 43 games this season.
In their absence, Jack Johnson and Jordan Harris are expected to step into the lineup after being scratched in recent games. “We’ve got guys that weren’t in our lineup that are excited to be in our lineup,” Evason noted. “Nobody wants anyone to get hurt, injured, or whatever, but you have an prospect to play in a hockey game and we expect everyone to be ready.”
The injury list extends to forward Kirill Marchenko, who underwent surgery for a broken jaw on Monday and is out indefinitely. Marchenko sustained the injury when he was struck by a puck while sitting on the bench during Sunday’s game. The 21-goal scorer leads the team in goals and plus/minus (plus-31) and has 55 points in 53 games.
| Player | Injury | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Zach Werenski | Undisclosed | 57 points,26:48 avg. ice time |
| Dante Fabbro | Upper-body | 13 points in 43 games |
| Kirill Marchenko | Broken jaw | 21 goals, 55 points |
The Blue Jackets will need to rely on their depth to navigate this difficult stretch. As Evason emphasized, “We’ve talked a lot about our depth in the past, and obviously it’s going to come in handy here tonight.” Fans will be watching closely to see how the team adapts to these challenges in the coming games.
