COLUMBUS, OHIO – The Columbus Blue Jackets have activated defenseman Nikita Nikitin off injured reserve and placed right wing Jared Boll on injured reserve, retroactive to February 9, club Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Scott Howson announced today. Boll, who has missed the last four games due to a foot injury suffered against Dallas on February 9, is listed as week-to-week.
Nikitin (pronounced nih-KEE-tihn), 25, missed the previous 12 games due to a knee injury suffered at Detroit on February 21. He has combined to record two goals and 16 assists for 18 points to go along with 10 penalty minutes in 38 games this season with Columbus and St. Louis. He was acquired from the Blues in exchange for Kris Russell on November 11. He has set career highs in goals (tied), assists and points, while ranking third among club defensemen in assists and points. The 6-3, 217-pound native of Omsk, Russia made his NHL debut with the Blues in 2010-11, and has collected 3-24-27 and 20 penalty minutes in 79 career NHL games.
St. Louis’ fifth pick, 136th overall, in the 2004 Entry Draft, Nikitin registered 3-11-14, 12 penalty minutes and was +1 in 22 American Hockey League games with the Peoria Rivermen during his first season playing in North America in 2010-11. Prior to his North American career, he tallied 13-48-61 with 213 penalty minutes and a +9 plus/minus rating in 262 career games in the Russian Elite League and KHL with Avangard Omsk from 2004-10. He also represented Russia at the 2006 World Junior Championships, appearing in six games and helping his team claim the silver medal
The Blue Jackets return to action tonight when the club hosts the San Jose Sharks. Game time from Nationwide Arena is set for 7 p.m. ET. Live coverage on FOX Sports Ohio HD begins with the Blue Jackets Live pre-game show starting at 6:30 p.m. The game will also be broadcast live on the Wheeling Island Hotel & Casino Blue Jackets Radio Network, including WWCD 102.5 FM in Columbus and online at BlueJackets.com
Single game tickets for the Blue Jackets home games starting at $26 are on sale now at the Nationwide Arena Ticket Office, The OhioHealth Chiller Ice Rinks and all Ticketmaster Ticket Centers. Fans can also purchase tickets by phone at (800) 745-3000 or online at BlueJackets.com, the official club web site, and ticketmaster.com.
The 2013 NHL All-Star Game is coming to Columbus Jan. 26-27, 2013. Fans can guarantee access to seats for both the game and Skills Challenge now by reserving a full or partial season ticket plan for the Blue Jackets’ 2012-13 season. Ticket plans start at less than $15 per game. In addition to guaranteed access to All-Star tickets, full and partial-season ticket holders receive a number of great benefits including significant savings versus single-game prices; the best available seat locations; exclusive access to events with players and coaches; and priority access to tickets for most other events at Nationwide Arena and the Jerome Schottenstein Center. For more information, call (800) NHL-COLS or visit BlueJackets.com.
