The Columbus Blue Jackets calls up Oliver Bjorkstrand following a lower body injury to Scott Hartnell. The 21-year-old Dane will play in his 6th NHL game this season against Toronto.
The Columbus Blue Jackets will bring Oliver Bjorkstrand down I-71 from Cleveland to Columbus for Wednesday’s game. Bjorkstrand will fill in for Scott Hartnell while he recovers from a nasty crash into the boards on Monday’s loss to the New York Rangers.
Bjorkstrand was most recently called up on February 8th. He was a healthy scratch in the Jackets match up against Vancouver the next night though.
Columbus Blue Jackets
With the addition of Bjorkstrand to the roster, the game against Toronto will feature some youngsters with incredible futures. Bjorkstrand, Zach Werenski, Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews, William Nylander and Alexander Wennberg are all young stars that will be playing in this league for a long time.
Loss of Hartnell
Scott Hartnell went crashing into the boards on Monday night following a break away where he slipped. Heading straight for the boards, he appeared to put out his arms at the last second. His wrist and arms seemed to take the brunt of the impact but his entire body did slam against the boards.
Hartnell briefly laid on the ice before getting up and skating off by himself. Minutes later Hartnell returned to the ice for a brief shift before departing for the dressing room for the game.
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The injury has been noted as a lower body injury by Coach John Tortorella. The 34 year old native of Regina, Saskatchewan has been held pointless in February but has provided a much needed spark in the two games against Detroit.
Bjorkstrand has been hot for the Cleveland Monsters recently and has 26 points in 37 games this season. He will play with Brandon Saad and Alexander Wennberg’s line on Wednesday according to Tom Reed of the Columbus Dispatch.
Young talent will be all over the ice on Wednesday. At 21, Oliver Bjorkstrand’s time to produce for the club is now.