Letestu plays after rush to arena
DENVER — Mark Letestu has a word to describe the odd circumstances that led to him playing last week in Winnipeg.
“It was unique,” said Letestu, who hustled out as a last-minute replacement for Cam Atkinson in the Jackets’ 4-3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday. “At the time, you’re just thinking, ‘Get out there,’ trying to help the guys as best you can, but sometimes it’s fun to play like that. Keeping it that simple is kind of nice.”
The eight minutes Letestu had to prepare weren’t as simple.
As he walked to MTS Place, winding through a crowded skywalk with temperatures outside in the minus-20s, his phone rang. It was Bill Zito, the Blue Jackets’ assistant general manager, informing Letestu that he might have to play after “something happened in warmup.”
Atkinson had been struck in the mouth with a puck, which ricocheted off a goal post, and Letestu broke into his first of two runs in a short span. After cutting through “a sea of fans,” he found the security entrance, raced to the locker room and The Blue Jackets’ Mark Letestu (55) collides with the Blues’ Alex Pietrangelo during a game Saturday. Letestu had to scramble to get to the arena and suit up to play in Winnipeg on Thursday after Cam Atkinson was hurt during warmups.
feverishly put on his gear.
After tying his skates, he headed out and broke into a trot after turning a corner into a hallway leading to the ice. The scene was captured on video, used on Fox Sports Ohio’s telecast and became a Twitter sensation.
“It wasn’t prettylooking, but it got the job done,” Letestu said, smiling.
Once on the bench, just in time for the U.S. and Canadian anthems, Letestu reset his focus.
He had no idea whom he’d play with and his first interaction with coach John Tortorella was a question.
“He just asked me where I’d been,” said Letestu, 34, who didn’t play Tuesday at the Colorado Avalanche.
Balancing act
During his morning news conference Tuesday, Tortorella wasn’t sure if his full assortment of forwards would be available.
Brandon Dubinsky (undisclosed) and Boone Jenner (ankle laceration) were questionable, which meant Tortorella might use different line combinations from practice Monday, when he broke up the usual top line of Artemi Panarin, Pierre-luc Dubois and Atkinson.
Panarin skated with Alexander Wennberg and Oliver Bjorkstrand, while captain Nick Foligno moved up with Dubois and Atkinson. Jenner centered the third line, in his first practice after missing three games, while Dubinsky centered the fourth line before leaving early.
“If we have all our forwards healthy, I’d like to try to balance it out,” Tortorella said. “I’m in the mindset right now, going into (the) game, we need to win a game. That kind of changes things along the way. If I don’t feel comfortable, it could be a pretty quick change (back).”
Defenseman Ryan Murray’s status was also unknown after the skate, which was optional. Murray, who injured his left ankle against Winnipeg, didn’t get on the ice. He played Saturday against St. Louis, but missed practice Monday.