After scary hit, Werenski is ‘day to day’ for Jackets
All things considered, it looks like the Blue Jackets caught a break with Zach Werenski.
Despite missing practice Monday, the star defenseman wasn’t ruled out for a game Tuesday against the New York Islanders and is “day to day” with an upper-body injury — or injuries — caused by a high hit that forced him out of a 3-2 overtime loss Saturday in Minnesota.
“We’ll see where it goes,” said Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen, who sounded optimistic about Werenski’s prognosis. “Pretty good helmet to the head there, in the lips. … He’s feeling better today, so we’ll see how he is (Tuesday).”
Wild defenseman Jacob Middleton delivered the hit late in the first period at Xcel Energy Center, just after Werenski let go of a wrist shot in the high slot. Middleton led with a shoulder, took a step toward his target and the crown of his helmet slammed into Werenski’s mouth, dropping the Blue Jackets defenseman straight to the ice.
No penalty was assessed and play stopped because Werenski’s shot had ramped up off Middleton’s stick into the safety netting behind the Minnesota net. Werenski, prone on the ice, grabbed his mouth and didn’t move for several minutes.
He was eventually helped to his feet and slowly headed to the bench in a hunched-over position while flanked by teammates Gustav Nyquist and Oliver Bjorkstrand for stabilization. It was an ugly scene, and the lack of a penalty made the Blue Jackets fume.
Werenski was pronounced out of the game in the second period, and the scary nature of his exit made a long-term injury seem plausible. There doesn’t seem to be a concern about that now, even if Werenski doesn’t play Tuesday.
Islanders at Blue Jackets
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday TV: Bally Sports Ohio Radio: 97.1 FM
No change for Jenner, Texier
Larsen said things are status quo with captain Boone Jenner and forward Alexandre Texier, who are out indefinitely with 16 games remaining.
Jenner, who’s “week-to-week” with a lower-back injury, missed his seventh straight game Saturday and didn’t travel for the two-game road trip this weekend to Winnipeg and Minnesota.
Texier hasn’t played since Jan. 26 against the Calgary Flames, when he fractured a finger that was expected to sideline him an estimated four weeks.
It's now beyond eight weeks, but the forward is in France while mourning the deaths of two people close to him.
Simo Niiranen, Texier's agent, said the 22-year old forward is staying in shape by skating and completing off-ice workouts, but it's unknown when — or if — he'll return to Columbus before the season ends. Jenner is putting in rehab work locally, but his potential return is also cloudy.
“There's no point in dwelling on it,” Larsen said. “We're not the only ones who have injuries. It's been like this all year, so you just deal with what's in front of you.”
Monsters sign Owen Sillinger
Cole Sillinger isn't the only member of his family playing professional hockey in Ohio. He's been joined by older brother Owen Sillinger, 24, who centered the Cleveland Monsters' top line Sunday in his American Hockey League debut.
The elder Sillinger, who recently finished
his collegiate career for Bemidji State, signed a professional tryout offer to play the remainder of this season in Cleveland. He also has an AHL contract with the Monsters for next season.
“He's a guy who's found his own path,” Cole Sillinger said of his oldest sibling. “He didn't play his first year of junior until he was 18 and didn't become a freshman in college until he was 21, so he's earned everything he's gotten. He's a super hard worker, and he's for sure going to take advantage of the opportunity he's got there in Cleveland.”
Owen Sillinger set a single-season record with 47 points in his senior season for Bemidji State, and his 115 points in four seasons ranks fourth all-time in the school's career scoring rankings. There is also a third Sillinger brother, Lukas, who has two years of eligibility left for Bemidji State.
Johnson heading to Frozen Four
The Blue Jackets will have to wait a few more weeks before signing top prospect Kent Johnson to an entry-level contract and welcoming him to Columbus.
The University of Michigan sophomore forward, selected fifth overall in 2021, will try to win a national championship at the 2022 Frozen Four, which will be held April 7-9 at TD Garden in Boston.
The Wolverines advanced by defeating Quinnipiac, 7-4, Sunday in Allentown, Pennsylvania. bhedger@dispatch.com @Brianhedger