Status of Dzingel, Foligno uncertain
CALGARY, Alberta — The Blue Jackets were two forwards short during practice Monday at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
Missing were captain Nick Foligno, who hasn’t rejoined the team after missing a game Saturday in Boston because of a personal issue, and Ryan Dzingel, who is “nicked up,” according to coach John Tortorella.
Not much is known about Foligno’s situation, other than it is not related to his young daughter’s Dec. 31 heart surgery in Boston.
Dzingel played in the Jackets’ 2-1 overtime loss Saturday at the Boston Bruins, absorbing a punishing hit by Zdeno Chara in the second period.
Tortorella was noncommittal about whether Dzingel will play Tuesday against the Calgary Flames.
“I have no idea, so wait until (Tuesday),” he said, repeating that answer when asked if Dzingel’s day off was more than just a “maintenance day” used to rest nagging or minor issues.
Dzingel, a pending free agent acquired Feb. 23 from the Ottawa Senators, had a tough start to his Blue Jackets tenure — going eight straight games without scoring a goal.
He looked more comfortable the past three games, though, skating with former Senators teammate Matt Duchene and Josh Anderson.
Dzingel scored his first goal with the Blue Jackets last Tuesday in a 7-4 win against the Bruins in Columbus and finished plus-1 Saturday night in Boston.
Alexander Wennberg, normally a center, skated in Dzingel’s spot during practice and rejoined the Jackets’ top powerplay unit.
They meet again
The game Tuesday will be another chance for a pair of former Boston College No. 13 stars to match wits, as the Blue Jackets’ Cam Atkinson faces Calgary’s Johnny Gaudreau.
Atkinson is second in scoring with 64 points and has a team-high 38 goals for Columbus, while Gaudreau leads the Flames with 34 goals and 91 points.
They missed each other in college by a few years, but are now friends — especially after helping the U.S. win a bronze medal last spring at the 2018 IIHF Men’s World Championship in Denmark.
“I’m friendly with him, but got to know him on more of a personal level at the world championships, for sure,” said Atkinson, who opted to wear No. 89 instead of their shared No. 13. “It’s always been fun (playing against him). I missed him at Boston College, but there’s a lot of familiarity.”
One-timers
A report Monday in The Athletic said the Blue Jackets are close to signing heralded 24-year-old goalie prospect Elvis Merzlikins to a oneyear entry-level contract and that he could finish the season with the Cleveland Monsters. … The same report cited “sources” claiming the Blue Jackets will spend a portion of the 2019-20 preseason in China as part of the NHL’S effort to grow interest in the sport.