These Blue Jackets have heart.
If you gave up hope last night during the third period after Cam Atkinson left the game with a lower-body injury and the Kings seemed as if they were going to easily take a 2-1 victory, you definitely weren't alone.
It's clear that the Blue Jackets never gave up hope.
When Cam Atkinson headed to the locker room last night, late in the second period, it was a big hit to the Blue Jackets. Atkinson is a leader, and while he hasn't been as productive on the scoresheet, there's no question guys around the locker room look up to him. His injury can be realized as an even bigger loss when you take into account the current Blue Jackets injury report:
- RW Cam Atkinson left last night's game in the second period with a lower-body injury.
- D David Savard missed last night's game with an illness.
- LW Sonny Milano is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
- RW Josh Anderson (IR) is out indefinitely with an upper-body injury.
- D Andrew Peeke (IR) is out 4-6 weeks with a broken hand.
- F Emil Bemstrom (IR) is out 6-8 weeks from 12/7 with a dislocated rib and broken cartilage.
- D Ryan Murray (IR) is week-to-week with an upper-body injury.
- D Markus Nutivaara (IR) is practicing with the team, but there is no update on a return to the lineup.
- F Brandon Dubinsky (IR) is out indefinitely with a wrist injury.
The Blue Jackets currently have nine skaters injured, including Savard. That's half of a gameday lineup.
John Tortorella and co. have been battling through it with outstanding results. These banged-up, bruised Blue Jackets are currently on a six-game point streak and three-game win streak, finding ways to win through it all.
Guys have been stepping up, like Zach Werenski (G, A last night), Gustav Nyquist (2A last night) and Pierre-Luc Dubois (GWG, A last night).
Guys have come into the lineup with minimal NHL experience and played at a high level, like Eric Robinson, Kevin Stenlund, and Alexandre Texier.
While the injury bug has bitten the Blue Jackets, John Tortorella has done a fantastic job with his club, which somehow finds itself at above .500, with a record of 15-14-6.
Every player has given it his all, and the Blue Jackets are finding results. They sure are easy to root for this year.
