The Blue Jackets' defense will be without Zach Werenski for the next 1-2 weeks.
Announced Saturday afternoon by the team, he suffered a lower body injury in Thursday's 4-3 win over the Dallas Stars at Nationwide Arena. After delivering a hit in the corner late in regulation, Werenski was seen flexing his right leg.
He went down the tunnel to the dressing room shortly thereafter, but did return to the bench. Werenski didn't play for the final four-plus minutes of the third period.
Werenski flexing his right leg a bit post play. headed down the tunnel under his own power after finishing his shift. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/9YkTsiYs8X
— Alison (@AlisonL) February 5, 2021
In Werenski's absence, the Blue Jackets shuffled their defense pairings in advance of Sunday afternoon's game against the Carolina Hurricanes (3 p.m. ET):
Kukan – Jones
Gavrikov – Savard
Harrington – Del Zotto
Werenski, 23, had one goal and three assists in 12 games to start the 2020-21 campaign. He and Seth Jones struggled a bit in their own end early on before being split up the last two games, but both players have seen a moderate resurgence in play since. Scott Harrington has been a healthy scratch in each of the Blue Jackets' first 12 games. It appears he will be making his season debut Sunday.
