The Columbus Blue Jackets’ injuries continue to pile up as they announce defenseman Zach Werenski will miss Tuesday’s game against the Buffalo Sabres.
Werenski joins a long list of Blue Jackets injuries that include Booner Jenner, Erik Gudbranson, Yegor Chinakhov, Sean Monahan, Dante Fabbro and Kirill Marchenko.
Werenski left Sunday’s game in Dallas late in the second period after getting an arm twisted during an awkward collision with Stars defenseman Matt Dumba, but he returned to play in the third period.
Blue Jackets reporter Aaron Portzline questioned how this injury would impact Werenski’s decision to play in the 4 Nations Face-Off
#CBJ head coach Dean Evason confirms Zach Werenski will not play tonight in Buffalo.
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) February 4, 2025
Elvis Merzlikins in net.
The 27-year-old has tallied 17 goals and 40 assists for 57 points in 53 games this season with Columbus, leading the club.
The Grosse Pointe native has hit the 40-point mark five times in his nine-year career, including 47 points during his rookie season in 2016-17.
With Werenski day-to-day and Marchenko injured for the foreseeable future, it adds to the laundry list of injuries the team has suffered throughout the 2024-25 season. Captain Boone Jenner has been out all season after undergoing shoulder surgery, with defenseman Erik Gudbranson also needing shoulder surgery after getting hurt in the third game of the season.
Columbus currently sits fourth in the Metropolitan Division with a 26-20-7 record with 59 points through 53 games and sits four points ahead of the New York Islanders and five points ahead of the New York Rangers. Columbus occupies the second and final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Blue Jackets are slated to face the Sabres on Tuesday, the Utah Hockey Club on Thursday and the New York Rangers on Saturday before the 4 Nations Face-Off break.