Ice Chips: Blue Jackets' Werenski to miss game Tuesday
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Keep updated on all the injury news and roster updates from around the NHL with daily Ice Chips.
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets will be without top defenceman Zach Werenski against the Buffalo Sabres, head coach Dean Evason confirmed Tuesday.
Werenski, 27, was involved in an awkward collision with Dallas Stars blue liner Matt Dumba in the second period of Sunday's 5-3 loss. He would leave the bench with an apparent arm injury, before returning for the final frame.
Columbus (26-20-7) will now be missing their top three leading scorers this season, with Werenski joining Kirill Marchenko (broken jaw) and Sean Monahan (upper-body injury) on the sidelines.
Werenski has registered 17 goals and 40 assists for 57 points while appearing in all 53 of his team's games this season.
The Blue Jackets currently occupy the second and final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference at 59 points, with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins hot on their heels at 58 points.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lightning assigned rookie Conor Geekie to the AHL's Syracuse Crunch on Tuesday.
Geekie, 20, was drafted 11th overall by the Arizona Coyotes in 2022 and dealt to the Lightning during the 2024 NHL Draft, along with defenceman J.J. Moser and a draft pick, to the Lightning in exchange for defenceman Mikhail Sergachev.
The 6-foot-4 centre appeared in 49 games with the Lightning this season, recording six goals and 12 points.
Geekie starred for the Western Hockey League's Wenatchee Wild and Swift Current Broncos last season, recording 43 goals and 99 points in 55 games.
He also represented Canada at the 2024 World Juniors in Sweden in a fifth-place finish.
Andrei Vasilevskiy was the first goaltender off the ice during Tuesday's morning skate and is expected to start in net against the Ottawa Senators, according to team reporter Benjamin Pierce.
Vasilevskiy, 30, has a 21-15-3 record this season with a 2.30 goals-against average and .918 save percentage.
Minnesota Wild
The Wild have activated defenceman Jonas Brodin from long-term injured reserve and forward Marcus Johansson from injured reserve on Tuesday.
Brodin, 31, has missed the team's last 12 games with dealing with a lower-body injury.
The 6-foot-2 left-shot defenceman has four goals and 16 points in 31 games this season with a plus-10 rating while averaging 23:13 of ice time.
Johansson, 34, missed the team's last eight games with an upper-body injury.
The 6-foot-1 centre has five goals and 16 points in 44 games this season.
The Wild assigned forward Ben Jones to the AHL's Iowa Wild in a corresponding move.
Jones, 25, appeared in 26 games in Minnesota this season without recording a point.
New York Rangers
Rangers defenceman Adam Edstrom is expected to be out long-term with a lower-body injury, according to Mollie Walker of the New York Post.
Edstrom, 24. left Saturday's 6-3 loss to the Boston Bruins after just 4:22 of ice time with the injury.
He is expected to miss two and half to three and a half months.
The 6-foot-6 left-shot defenceman has five goals and nine points in 51 games this season
New Jersey Devils
Forward Erik Haula will be a game-time decision for when the Devils take on the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday, according to head coach Sheldon Keefe.
Haula, 33, missed the team's last 12 games with an ankle injury.
The 5-foot-11 winger has five goals and 11 points in 42 games this season.
Additionally, Nico Daws will be in net on Tuesday against the Penguins.
Daws, 24, appeared in relief of Jake Allen during the team's 4-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday, recording seven saves.
The 6-foot-4 netminder was recalled from the AHL's Utica Comets on Saturday and has a 5-14-2 record with a .888 save percentage and 3.40 goals-against average in the AHL this season.
Florida Panthers
Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky will get the start for the Florida Panthers as they face the Washington Capitals on Tuesday.
Bobrovsky holds a 22-11-2 record through 35 starts this season, posting a 2.67 goals-allowed average and a .902 save percentage.
The Panthers have won each of the 36-year-old's last four starts, with Bobrosvky surrendering just five goals over that span.
Florida (32-19-3) travels to the U.S. capital with a two-point lead over the Toronto Maple Leafs for first place in the Atlantic Division.
San Jose Sharks
The Sharks recalled forward Andrew Poturalski from the AHL's San Jose Barracuda on Tuesday.
Poturalski, 31, leads the AHL in scoring this season with 18 goals and 45 points in 41 games.