The hockey gods haven't been kind to the Columbus Blue Jackets this season. Injuries have been an issue for months, and not even the coaching staff is safe.
(Courtesy: Man-Games Lost)
Head coach John Tortorella suffered two broken ribs in a collision at practice last week, which kept him out of Saturday's game. The injury will cost him at least two more games.
#CBJ coach John Tortorella (broken ribs) definitely out tonight and Tuesday vs. #Canadiens. Club hopes he's ready after All-Star Game break.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) January 25, 2016
Assistant coach Craig Hartsburg will continue to man the bench in Tortorella's absence.
"(Tortorella's) still hurting," Hartsburg said. "I talked to him a couple of times yesterday and, obviously, it’s tough. He’s sore all over and really can’t be mobile at this point, so we’re hoping every day he gets better, but up until now he hasn’t. It’s a significant injury."
The Blue Jackets and Montreal Canadiens begin a home-and-home series Monday in Columbus. They'll be in Montreal on Tuesday, and then hit the All-Star break.
Columbus is 17-20-5 since Tortorella took over behind the bench in October, but the hole the club dug itself was far too deep to get out of. The Blue Jackets have a league-low 39 points, and have the draft lottery - and potentially Auston Matthews - to look forward to.
"Torts is our leader," Hartsburgh added. "He’s the guy that we look up to as assistant coaches and, as players, he’s their leader. We’re just trying to do our jobs to help the team, help him so when he’s back, hopefully the team’s better. That’s our goal is when he comes back, we’ve made some progress and we’re playing better as a group.
