Nikita
Nikitin, who had played big minutes and surprisingly well since coming
to Columbus in an early-season trade with St. Louis, suffered what
appeared to be a serious left ankle injury during the third period of
Saturday's 3-2 shootout loss in Detroit.
The Blue
Jackets did not offer an update immediately after the game, but it does
not appear to be a short-term injury.
Nikitin was
retrieving a puck and skating hard toward the end boards when Red Wings
forward Henrik Zetterberg put his left hand in the small of Nikitin's
back and appeared to give him a slight shove.
As
Nikitin lost his balance and slammed into the boards, all of his weight
was absorbed by his left leg, and his ankle twisted gruesomely. He was
helped to the bench by two teammates and went straight to the dressing
room.
Zetterberg was given a five-minute boarding
penalty and a 10-minute game misconduct.
NOTES,
QUOTES
Nash's No. 61 retired by junior
club
--Blue Jackets captain Rick Nash had his No. 61
retired on Friday by his junior club, the London Knights, his sweater
joining six others in the roof of the John Labatt Centre. "It was a
special night," Nash said. "What really blew me away was seeing my name
up there with some of the great players who have come through the London
Knights organization. That's special."
--Look for
Blue Jackets defenseman Brett Lebda to see more playing time now in the
wake of an injury suffered by Nikita Nikitin during Saturday's shootout
loss to Detroit. Lebda was signed by the Blue Jackets on Thursday after
spending the previous two months playing for Columbus' minor league
affiliate in Springfield. He figured to be the Jackets' No. 7 defenseman
the rest of the season, but now the pecking order has
changed.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's a huge lift for us.
We'll practice him hard here the next couple of days and see where he
stands." -- Blue Jackets interim coach Todd Richards, referring to R.J.
Umberger, who returned Monday after missing five games with a
concussion.
ROSTER REPORT
PLAYER
NOTES:
--D Nikita Nikitin suffered a serious left
ankle injury when he was boarded by Detroit's Henrik Zetterberg midway
through the third period. No update was immediately available for
Nikitin, who scored his second goal of the season earlier in the
game.
--RW R.J. Umberger could play in one or both of
the Blue Jackets' games before the NHL All-Star Game break. Umberger,
out the last five games with a concussion, has passed a baseline test
and returned to practice with the Blue Jackets. He was hurt Jan. 9 when
he was elbowed in the head by Anaheim's Jean-Francois
Jacques.
--LW Ryan Russell scored his second goal of
the season early in Saturday's shootout loss to Detroit. Russell
followed the puck to the net and buried a rebound off a Derek Dorsett
shot. He was recalled earlier this month as a temporary fix, but has
earned a permanent spot on the Blue Jackets' checking
line.
MEDICAL WATCH:
--D James
Wisniewski (broken ankle) is out until February.
--C Jeff
Carter (separated shoulder) out indefinitely.
--RW Mark Letestu
(broken hand) is out until late February.
--LW Kristian
Huselius (lower body) is out until February.
--D Radek Martinek
(concussion) is out for the season.
--D Nikita Nikitin (left
ankle) is out indefinitely.
