Foligno healed, back for ‘ fun’
LOS ANGELES — The Blue Jackets will welcome back a veteran forward Thursday after losing one of their younger ones to injury.
Josh Anderson will miss four weeks after suffering a sprained knee Monday at the end of a 5-1 win over the Washington Capitals. On Wednesday, however, captain Nick Foligno was activated off the injured list after missing four games because of a knee injury he suffered against Pittsburgh on Feb. 18.
It looks like Foligno will start on the second line Thursday night at the Los Angeles Kings alongside center Alexander Wennberg and left wing Thomas Vanek.
“It’s nice to be back out there with the guys,” Foligno said. “You never like watching, especially at this time of the year. It’s a fun time of year to be playing hockey.”
Anderson was hurt when he went airborne on a hip check from Washington’s Dmitry Orlov near center ice. After collecting himself, Anderson skated off the ice and went straight to the locker room.
Anderson is tied with Artemi Panarin for the team lead with 18 goals.
“He has earned his way into playing in all situations on this hockey club,” coach John Tortorella said. “He has had a good year. Hopefully we get him back as soon as possible. We will miss him, but we have guys who need to fill in. We need to move by it.”
Changes in attitude
Tortorella said he could feel a certain vibe from his team Monday after the trade deadline.
The Blue Jackets added two players in Ian Cole and Thomas Vanek while holding onto pending free agents Jack Johnson and Matt Calvert, among others.
“It was a different bench,” Tortorella said. “This is our team right now. I’m not sure how guys felt. Maybe some guys wanted to be moved. Maybe some didn’t. I don’t poll them before the deadline.
“Right now, my concentration is putting the best guys out on that ice and win each and every game. No worrying about feelings. We’re going to play hard and try to play the right way to get some wins.”
Jokinen moves on
Tortorella reiterated he is happy to see Jussi Jokinen get another opportunity with the Vancouver Canucks. Jokinen was traded to Vancouver as part of the Vanek deal.
“I gave everything I had here,” Jokinen said Monday after the trade was announced. “This was a different role than I was used to, but I tried my best to help the team. … John Tortorella wanted me to do well and I felt that, if I had more points, maybe he would have had confidence to play me more.”