Murray isn’t celebrating hot start

WASHINGTON — Ryan Murray’s been here before, with a great start invoking thoughts of what he might be able to do with a full slate of 82 regular-season games.

Going into the Blue Jackets’ game Friday night against the Washington Capitals, the 25-year-old defenseman had eight points on a goal and seven assists — the most he has had through the first 15 games in any of his six NHL seasons.

Murray, though, knows better than to start making projections.

“Everything feels pretty good,” he said before the game. “We’re still early, so I just want to keep going and make sure that I’m staying focused and staying in it.”

Nobody on the Blue Jackets knows what time of the year it is better than Murray, who’s had multiple seasons interrupted by injury — some more significant than others. Just last season, Murray was off to another good start before suffering a nagging, frustrating back injury Nov. 27 at Montreal.

Before the injury, he had a goal, four assists and a plus-seven rating through 24 games and earned a role on the power play. The injury kept Murray out the next 34 games.

He returned Feb. 20 and finished strong, including a good individual series against the Capitals in the playoffs. This time, though, Murray isn’t ready to look too far ahead — even after being paired with Seth Jones on the top defensive pairing in a win Tuesday against Dallas.

“I’m happy the way things have gone, but at the same time it’s still so early,” he said. “There’s still so much season left.”

Cam Atkinson made the trip to Washington but didn’t play. He became ill before the game.

Oliver Bjorkstrand, who appeared headed for his second straight game as a healthy scratch, got back into the lineup in Atkinson’s spot at right wing on the first line.

After sitting out against the Stars, defenseman Scott Harrington got back into the lineup on the third pairing. Harrington played with Zach Werenski, who was moved off the top pairing Tuesday.

“I think you make adjustments on the fly and the players need to deal with it,” coach John Tortorella said. “(Harrington’s) champing at the bit to get back in. He doesn’t care where he plays. He just wants to play.”