Injuries open opportunity for Harrington, Carlsson
Although it’s because of unfortunate circumstances, Scott Harrington and Gabriel Carlsson have a chance to prove their worth with the Blue Jackets.
With Ryan Murray on injured reserve and Markus Nutivaara day-to-day because of upper-body injuries, the two young defensemen, who have struggled to see much ice time, are tasked with stepping in and replacing the third defensive pairing.
“It feels amazing,” said Carlsson, who was recalled Friday from minor-league Cleveland and played Saturday at Washington for his first NHL game since Nov. 12. “This is the place I want to be and I enjoyed playing last game. I thought it was really fun.”
Carlsson has bounced back and forth between the minors and the Blue Jackets to maximize his playing time, but Harrington hasn’t had that luxury as he would need to be exposed to waivers before being sent down. He has spent most of the season as a healthy scratch, playing in only two games before Murray’s injury.
Coach John Tortorella has lauded Harrington’s effort in practice and demeanor about the uncertainty of his role, but has also noted he can’t force someone into the lineup if it’s not the best decision for the team.
“He’s a good player and we wouldn’t have signed him if we didn’t think he was a good player,” Tortorella said. “I’ve liked his last couple of games and you never know what happens from there.”
Despite the uncertainty of the situation, Harrington tries to not let it bother him or affect his play.
“All you can do is enjoy the moment and make the most of the opportunities with every game,” Harrington said. “That’s really all I’m trying to do, watch my shifts from every game and try to learn from them and try to be better the next game.”
Harrington added it took a couple of periods for him to get used to the speed of play. Against the Capitals, he was tasked with getting used to playing alongside Carlsson, whom he played with a little last season but rarely this season.
With no timetable on either Murray or Nutivaara’s return — neither practiced Monday— there’s a chance that Harrington and Carlsson will be the Blue Jackets’ third pair for the foreseeable future.
As far as their chemistry, so far, so good.
“He’s easy to play with,” Harrington said. “He’s a smart player and he doesn’t leave you hanging out to dry. He provides a lot of support.”
“Harry’s a good player and you know what you get when you play with him,” Carlsson added.