Bjorkstrand seeks consistency this season

GLENDALE, Ariz. — If any Blue Jackets player is keenly aware of how jumbled the forward lines have gotten this season, it’s Oliver Bjorkstrand.

The 23-year-old has skated on all four, played right and left wing on each and has also been a healthy scratch five times. It’s part of coach John Tortorella’s effort to find Bjorkstrand a more permanent role, which hasn’t been easy.

“When we talk about this, part of the responsibility is me too, in developing some young players on this team — Bjorkstrand, (Anthony Duclair), players like that,” said Tortorella, who started out Tuesday with Bjorkstrand on a line with Artemi Panarin and Alexander Wennberg in a 6-3 win at Colorado.

“I think Bjorky has played really hard for a while now, and has taken to heart how he has to play — trying to get into open areas, trying to battle for pucks, so he can have it more often offensively.”

Bjorkstrand has picked up his pace offensively the past couple months.

After pushing his goal streak to a season-high three games against the Avalanche, scoring 53 seconds into the game, Bjorkstrand has 10 goals, seven assists and 17 points — including seven goals and two assists in the past 17 games.

“Now the test is just to keep going with that and not fall back,” said Bjorkstrand, who played all 82 games last season and finished with 11 goals and 40 points. “That seems to be a little bit of a problem with me, especially this year. I’ve had some good games and bad games, but I’ve got to have more good games.”

The first 24 games were a good example.

Bjorkstrand had six points on two goals and four assists, not to mention a minus-7 rating, and played mostly on the third and fourth lines. He also was scratched five times, including four straight games in November. Since then, he has stayed in the lineup for 28 straight games.

“I think it’s just all the mindset in the brain, and how you approach games going into them,” Bjorkstrand said. “I mean, I would never go into a game thinking I’m going to play (bad), but you just learn to be ready. A bounce here or there can help you, but if you want to be a good player, you shouldn’t rely on the bounces. You need to go out and try and do it yourself, too.”

Injury report

Center Brandon Dubinsky and defenseman Ryan Murray missed the Colorado game because of lowerbody injuries.

Dubinsky missed four games in January because of a strained hamstring. It’s unknown whether this issue is related, but his on-ice work suggests it might be. After leaving practice early Monday, Dubinsky participated in an optional morning skate Tuesday and then left the pregame warmup early.

Murray’s issue is related to a play in the first period of a 4-3 loss Thursday at Winnipeg. He appeared to twist his left ankle competing along the boards. Murray finished that game and played Saturday against St. Louis, but he has since stayed off the ice for practice work.