Werenski expected to be ready for playoffs
PHILADELPHIA — On a day the Blue Jackets’ losing streak reached six games, the only good news came off the ice.
Coach John Tortorella and general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said they believe injured rookie Zach Werenski will be back in their lineup when the Stanley Cup playoffs begin this week in Pittsburgh. Asked for his level of confidence that Werenski would be ready, Tortorella said: “Totally confident. Totally.”
Kekalainen echoed the sentiment, though less forcefully.
“I think he’ll be ready,” Kekalainen told The Dispatch before Saturday’s 4-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. “The strength is the biggest thing, and he’s getting close to being back to normal.”
Werenski suffered an apparent shoulder injury April 2 when he was caught in the corner and crushed by Washington’s Alex Ovechkin. The Blue Jackets haven’t defined the injury, but the initial diagnosis, Kekalainen said, was a 1 ½- to two-week recovery.
Werenski is traveling with the team on this final regular-season trip. The 19-year-old skated with assistant coach Kenny McCudden on Saturday morning.
“He has skated before (today),” Kekalainen said. “It’s about slowly ramping him up, getting him ready for the playoffs.”
Werenski leads Blue Jackets defensemen in scoring with 11 goals, 36 assists and a plus17 rating in 78 games, becoming a candidate for the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie.
“Obviously, a guy like Z has been a huge part of our team this year,” said his usual defensive partner, Seth Jones.
Carlsson debuts
Rookie Gabriel Carlsson, who arrived a week ago from Sweden to make his North American debut with minor-league Cleveland, played in his first NHL game against the Flyers.
Carlsson was on the ice for three goals against in 19-plus minutes, but had little culpability in any of the scores. The rangy 6-foot-4 blueliner also blocked two shots and had three hits.
Tortorella was impressed enough to say Carlsson would play in the season finale. The coach also hinted the 2015 first-round pick could stick around for the playoffs.
Atkinson benched
Tortorella sat the team’s leading scorer, Cam Atkinson, for the final 13 minutes of the game after his turnover led to a Flyers scoring chance.
Atkinson is mired in a scoring slump — one point in his past 11 games — and it’s starting to impact other parts of his play.
“The way Cam was playing at the time, it wasn’t helping him,” Tortorella said. “I’m trying to save him.”
Atkinson understood his coach’s decision.
“I just haven’t been playing up to my standards, so I see it,” the winger said.