Werenski expected back vs. Penguins

The Blue Jackets expect rookie defenseman Zach Werenski to be in the lineup when they open a first-round Stanley Cup playoff series Wednesday against Pittsburgh.

Werenski, the Blue Jackets’ highest-scoring defensemen and one of the top rookies in the league this season, has continued to skate on his own and could join the club for practice today at Nationwide Arena.

He hasn’t played since suffering a shoulder injury April 2 against Washington.

The Penguins will get a lift, too, with center Evgeni Malkin expected to return from a shoulder injury that has kept him out of the lineup since March 15.

But Pittsburgh will be without defenseman Kris Letang (herniated disc) for the whole of the playoffs, and forwards Carl Hagelin and Chris Kunitz (lowerbody injuries) likely will miss the early part of the first round.

Two other Penguins — defensemen Olli Maatta and Trevor Daley — just returned to the lineup after extended absences with injury.

Friends … for now

This series, and perhaps more to come in the future, will test the friendship of two of the NHL’s most competitive coaches — John Tortorella of the Blue Jackets and Mike Sullivan of Pittsburgh.

Sullivan worked on Tortorella’s staffs as an assistant in Tampa Bay, the New York Rangers and Vancouver. The last time they spoke was early this month, a couple of days before their clubs met, Tortorella said.

But that was the regular season. Both agreed it’s probably going to be quiet during the playoffs.

“This series really isn’t about (us),” Sullivan told reporters in Pittsburgh on Sunday. “It’s about two really good hockey teams and it’s about real good players that are going to compete hard. That’s what should be celebrated.”

Slap shots

The Blue Jackets returned forward Sonny Milano to minor-league Cleveland. Defenseman Gabriel Carlsson remains on the roster. … Sources told The Dispatch that Game 6 of this series, if necessary, would be picked up by NBC, meaning it would not air on Fox Sports Ohio.