<p>You couldn’t imagine the Columbus Blue Jackets’ 2022-23 start to be worse if you were writing a horror movie screenplay. After the Johnny Gaudreau signing brought hope for the franchise in the offseason, the news has been consistently bad all year long. The Jackets are 4-9-1, tied for the fewest points in the NHL; they <a href="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/zach-werenski-to-miss-rest-of-2022-23-with-shoulder-injury/">lost No. 1 defenseman Zach Werenski</a> to a season-ending shoulder injury last week: and, Monday, they revealed another piece of brutal injury news.</p>



<p>Top-line right winger Patrik Laine sprained his ankle during Saturday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the New York Islanders and is expected to miss three to four weeks.</p>


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">INJURY UPDATE: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CBJ?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CBJ</a> forward Patrik Laine suffered a sprained ankle in Saturday’s game at the NY Islanders and is expected to miss 3-to-4 weeks.</p>
<p>— CBJ Public Relations (@BlueJacketsPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/BlueJacketsPR/status/1592194838535208960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 14, 2022</a></p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="137"></div></blockquote>
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<p>The injury occurred in the third period when Laine collided with teammate Cole Sillinger in the neutral zone. Laine came up limping but finished the game, logging 22:29, and said afterward he was fine. But the injury must’ve swelled up the following day, as it’ll sideline him well into December now.</p>


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">In the the third, Laine and Sillinger collided pretty hard in the neutral zone. </p>
<p>Both finished the game and Sillinger said they're both fine, but Laine was spotted limping back into the locker room afterward, so we'll see if that becomes anything.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CBJ?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CBJ</a></p>
<p>— Brian Hedger (@BrianHedger) <a href="https://twitter.com/BrianHedger/status/1591640139272536064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>It’s been a star-crossed season for Laine, 24, who injured his elbow in Columbus’ season opener and missed six games. He’s played just eight games this season, collecting two goals and four points.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="138"></div>



<p>Injuries are beginning to become a regular problem for Laine, a gifted shooter whose 178 goals rank second among all players selected in the 2016 NHL Draft class. A pair of injuries cost him 26 games spread across two absences last season. He’s missed 32 of Columbus’ last 96 games dating back to the start of 2021-22.</p>



<p>He joins a bursting Blue Jackets infirmary. Werenski is already done for the year, while defenseman Adam Boqvist is out with a broken foot, defenseman Nick Blankenburg is out with a fractured ankle, and forwards Sean Kuraly and Jakob Voracek also remain on the IR. Young center Kent Johnson is working his way back from an upper-body injury and will likely draw into the lineup to replace Laine.</p>
