Injuries are never ideal.
When they strike, often at the most inopportune time, it means an opportunity for someone else to step up.
The Columbus Blue Jackets look to have escaped serious problems after both Jake Voracek and Patrik Laine suffered isolated knee-on-knee collisions during Friday's win against the Minnesota Wild.
Voracek returned to the bench Friday but missed Sunday's game against the Vegas Golden Knights. He says he's ready to return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Ottawa Senators. Laine played and scored a goal in Sunday's 6-4 win over the Golden Knights.
#CBJ Patrik Laine will play tonight vs. #VGK.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) March 13, 2022
Feels fine. No issues. Good to go, he said. Ive had quite a few surgeries on this same knee, so I was kinda worried about that a little bit. It was hurting quite a bit, but not it feels fine. Still sore, but nothing major."
There was a chance the team could have lost their top three scorers.
With initial news to Laine and Voracek better than initially feared, we then learned on Saturday that Boone Jenner will be out on a week-to-week basis with a lower back issue, resulting in Trey Fix-Wolansky's emergency recall prior to last Sunday's game.
Fix-Wolansky got his feet wet last month, making his NHL debut against the Washington Capitals on Feb. 8 in which he scored his first career goal. During that initial stint with the Blue Jackets, Fix-Wolansky played in five games resulting in one goal and one assist.
Sunday's game against the Golden Knights was his first at Nationwide Arena and his minutes were sheltered, playing 4:17 across nine shifts. He had one shot, one blocked shot, and two hits. He was sent back to Cleveland on Monday.
Our own Dan Dukart wrote about Fix-Wolansky in February and as he said then, it's key to get a look at what prospects in the system have to offer.
Brendan Gaunce also played on Sunday.
At 27 years old, Gaunce isn't a prospect but he does have the chance to play big minutes down the stretch. In 13 games for the Blue Jackets this season, he has five points (three goals, two assists) after not playing in the NHL last season.
As has been the case all season, the Blue Jackets know it's the next-man-up mentality when injuries occur.
"There's no choice," Larsen said. "You can't dwell on it or whine about it. Nobody really cares. Certain guys are going to get opportunities, certain guys are going to get higher in the lineup, draw into the lineup, in positions, maybe power play time. They're all starving for it. Everybody wants that extra time so they're going to get it."
Oliver Bjorkstrand played a big part in Sunday's win, helping lead the charge with one goal and three assists on seven shots in 19:40 ice time. It's his second four-point game of the season and his career, with the first occurring on opening night against the Arizona Coyotes (two goals, two assists).
This feed from Oliver Bjorkstrand (@OBjorkstrand). pic.twitter.com/t2QbaIw5em
— NHL (@NHL) March 13, 2022
"We just needed a team effort," Bjorkstrand said. "Obviously, some important guys are out so just gotta find a way as a team to get a win."
The line of Max Domi - Cole Sillinger - Bjorkstrand impressed together as a unit playing 11:34 and combining for four goals, three of those thanks to Sillinger's first career hat trick. Domi also had two assists.
"I think as a unit we were just all moving our feet (and) winning battles," Bjorkstrand said. "We were just really connected so I think that's the main reason why we had success and were able to get a lot of chances, and put the puck in the net."
The next challenge for the Blue Jackets will be on Wednesday when they visit the Senators at Canadian Tire Centre. Then on Thursday, they return home to face the Capitals from Nationwide Arena.
The Jackets are 11 points behind the Capitals for the Eastern Conference's second wild card.
