The Columbus Blue Jackets have confirmed that defenseman Zach Werenski will not play in tonight’s game versus the New York Rangers due to an illness. The specific details surrounding his condition remain undisclosed, but past instances suggest he might return soon. Werenski’s absence is a concern for the Blue Jackets, as he is one of their most pivotal players.
At 28 years old, Werenski has demonstrated remarkable performance this season. He has amassed 65 points in 54 games, averaging an impressive 26:26 minutes of ice time per game. His time on the power play is notable as well, averaging 2:49 minutes, along with 1:30 minutes spent on the penalty kill. Notably, he ranks second among NHL defensemen in points and time-on-ice per game, trailing only Edmonton Oilers’ Evan Bouchard and Olympic teammate Quinn Hughes, respectively.
Impact on the Blue Jackets
With Werenski sidelined, the Blue Jackets are expected to lean heavily on veteran Ivan Provorov. Provorov, who has contributed 20 points in 56 games this season, averages 25:11 minutes on the ice, including significant time on the penalty kill at 3:06 minutes per game. He has a crucial role, typically shouldering what would be considered a No. 1 defenseman’s workload on other teams.
Despite not leading his team in scoring, Provorov ranks fifth in the NHL in time-on-ice per game, surpassing several elite defensemen like Cale Makar and Rasmus Dahlin.
Injury Updates Around the NHL
- Travis Konecny of the Philadelphia Flyers will also miss tonight’s game due to an upper-body injury and is considered day-to-day.
Konecny has been a key player for Philadelphia, sharing the ice with top forwards Christian Dvorak and Trevor Zegras. This season, he has scored 23 goals and tallied 57 points through 58 games, putting him on track for a potential career-high in scoring.
- Owen Tippett will take Konecny’s spot on the first line, stepping up from the second line.
Gibson’s Injury Situation
In other news, Detroit Red Wings goalie John Gibson left the game against the Nashville Predators with an upper-body injury. Coach Todd McLellan indicated that Gibson appears to be “OK,” but further evaluations will take place once the team returns to Michigan.
Gibson has been instrumental in lifting the Red Wings into playoff contention this season, boasting a record of 23 wins, 12 losses, and 2 overtime losses in 39 starts. His statistics include a .906 save percentage and a 2.57 goals-against average.
