The Columbus Blue Jackets Welcome Boone Jenner and Kirill Marchenko Back To The Lineup

With the March 7 NHL Trade Deadline approaching, the Columbus Blue Jackets are getting healthy. Captain Boone Jenner, who tore a labrum in training camp, is expected to be in the lineup as the Blue Jackets host the Chicago Blackhawks. Kirill Marchenko, who was struck by an errant puck while sitting on the Blue Jackets' bench shortly before the break, suffered a broken jaw.

The Blue Jackets trail the Detroit Red Wings by one point for a Wild Card spot. The two teams play twice next week in what are now pivotal showdown games with a lot at stake. Thursday’s game is in Detroit, while Saturday’s matchup is part of the NHL Stadium Series, which will take place at Ohio Stadium.

With Jenner and Marchenko returning, the Blue Jackets are in a good position to take one or both games, though Detroit is at full strength. Head coach Dean Evason did not speak directly about the back-to-back games against Detroit, only stating that he is glad to have the two players back in the lineup.

The Blue Jackets were widely viewed as a team poised for improvement this season, and now they stand on the doorstep of the playoffs. The Red Wings, expected to be one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference, got off to a slow start, leading to a coaching change. In the 20 games since Todd McLellan took over, Detroit has posted a 15-4-1 record with 31 points, solidifying their hold on a Wild Card spot.

Jenner adds instant firepower to a Blue Jackets team that already has no issues scoring, while Marchenko is also a proven sniper. Both players bring a well-rounded game, adding grit and snarl to Columbus' lineup. While the trade deadline is still a couple of weeks away, for Columbus, getting two key players back feels just as impactful as making a major acquisition.

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Cover Image/Graphic: Courtesy of Columbus Blue Jackets/NHL