Tortorella to return to Blue Jackets bench Tuesday

John Tortorella's absence from the Columbus Blue Jackets' bench will end Tuesday, as the head coach is travelling with the team to Edmonton, general manager Jarmo Kekalainen confirmed to The Columbus Dispatch.

The 57-year-old missed three games after breaking two ribs in a collision with forward Rene Bourque during a Jan. 22 practice. The team went 2-0-1 in Tortorella's absence, including a pair of 5-2 wins over the Montreal Canadiens.

The Blue Jackets have three goaltenders heading to Edmonton, as Curtis McElhinney, on the injured reserve with an ankle injury, is nearing a return. The team recalled Anton Forsberg from the AHL on Sunday after starter Sergei Bobrovsky was sidelined once again with a groin injury.

Tuesday's contest against the Oilers marks the first of three games in western Canada for the Blue Jackets, who will play on back-to-back nights against the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames beginning Thursday.