A brutal hit from a flying puck has sidelined one of the NHL’s breakout stars. Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kirill Marchenko suffered a broken jaw Sunday night during the team’s loss to the Dallas Stars.
The injury happened in the second period, sending Marchenko straight to a nearby hospital from American Airlines Center.
While the Blue Jackets haven’t announced how long he’ll be out, players typically need 6-8 weeks to recover from a broken jaw.
It’s devastating timing for Columbus, who just lost center Sean Monahan to a serious wrist injury. That’s their entire top line now missing as they fight for a playoff spot in a packed Eastern Conference.
Marchenko has been absolutely on fire this season. He’s already racked up 21 goals and 55 points in just 53 games – crushing his previous best of 42 points from last year.
But it’s not just his scoring that’s improved. He’s gotten way better at defense too, with career-best numbers in puck possession and save percentage when he’s on the ice. Perhaps most impressive? He’s leading the entire NHL with a +31 rating.
There’s a small silver lining for the Blue Jackets – captain Boone Jenner should be back soon. While he’ll help fill the gap on the right side, replacing Marchenko’s production won’t be easy.
The good news is both Marchenko and Monahan should return before the season ends. But Columbus might not want to wait it out.
With more salary cap space than most contending teams, they could look to make a move before the trade deadline. While they weren’t planning to be very active, Marchenko’s injury might force them to shop for some offensive help.
