Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski to return from concussion Monday vs. Bruins
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski hasn't played since he went down with a concussion due to a hit delivered by Minnesota Wild defenseman Jacob Middleton on March 26 and, thus, has missed three consecutive games.
According to Craig Merz of the NHL's website, Werenski will return to the lineup for Monday's home game against the Boston Bruins.
"It was a clean hit," Werenski explained about the incident that sidelined him. The 24-year-old added he probably could've taken the ice for what became Saturday's 5-2 loss to Boston but said "there is no need to kind of rush back into things" because Columbus is a whopping 15 points behind the Washington Capitals in the race for the conference's final wild-card playoff berth.
"I wanted to make sure I was healthy and 100 percent," Werenski remarked. "I feel like I am right now, so I'm ready to go."
Per ESPN stats, Werenski heads into Monday's game fifth on the Blue Jackets with 42 points and second with 32 assists. Columbus, meanwhile, has lost five straight contests but will get head coach Brad Larsen back behind the bench after he missed three consecutive matchups due to the league's COVID-19 protocol. Assistant Steve McCarthy will miss a fourth straight game due to the protocol, and associate coach Pascal Vincent entered the protocol earlier on Monday.
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