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The injury bug has continued to bite the Columbus Blue Jackets, and the latest victim is the team’s best player, goalie Sergei Bobrovsky. The netminder was placed on injured reserve after sustaining a broken finger and will miss 1-2 weeks.
The Blue Jackets happen to be entering a packed schedule and have seven games in the next two weeks, all potentially without their former Vezina Trophy winner between the pipes. The Blue Jackets recalled goalie Anton Forsberg from the AHL to assume Bobrovsky’s place on the roster.
While the injury to Bobrovsky is big news for Columbus, the team has to find a way to persevere and maintain decent position in the standings until they get some players back. This injury comes right on the heels of an injury to one of Columbus’ best offensive players in Nick Foligno.
The Metropolitan Division is very tightly packed at the moment; if you exclude the Carolina Hurricanes, the other seven teams are separated by only four points. The Blue Jackets must dig deep in the coming weeks to find ways to win games and stay close to the top of the division. All injuries aside, Columbus has lost three out of four after they started the season 3-1-0.
The Blue Jackets have to turn things around and it starts with Ryan Johansen and Scott Hartnell on offense. The two have combined for 21 points in eight games and have carried the load offensively for a Columbus team that’s also without Nathan Horton and Brandon Dubinsky in addition to Foligno.
Despite being shorthanded when it comes to offensive weapons, Hartnell has been great in his first season with Columbus and Johansen has showed that he’s going to be a star in this league. As for the defense, the entire team needs to contribute to keeping the puck out of their net. The Blue Jackets have given up 16 goals in their last four games, and they won’t survive with subpar defense and no Bobrovsky.
Columbus must play physical team defense in order to help out the goalie as much as possible. Whether it’s Forsberg or Curtis McElhinney in goal for the Jackets, they are gong to need solid defense in front of them. Injuries are a part of the game and every team goes through them. With that being said, Columbus has certainly been hit harder than most with injuries, but it’s an opportunity for this team to display some character.
Considering that almost all of the injuries are to key players, the Blue Jackets have to fight through it and win some games. Good teams show that injuries are a challenge, but they can be overcome. The Blue Jackets have the chance to prove that they are a very good team in next few weeks as they wait for some important reinforcements. One thing is for sure: The confidence of this team will go through the roof if they can play well and win games in the absence of Bobrovsky.
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