The Columbus Blue Jackets are currently engaged in a tense overtime battle with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and they’re doing so without defenseman Fedor Tyutin.
The experienced blueliner hasn’t been on the ice for the Blue Jackets since the first period, which is not a great sign considering the fact that the two teams just finished their fourth of the night. The Blue Jackets haven’t been forthcoming with details like every other playoff team, so we’ll need to stick with educated guesses:
#CBJ Tyutin was hit square and hard by Kunitz on his first shift of the game, then hit again on last shift of first period by Glass.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) April 20, 2014
The Blue Jackets are likely to miss Tyutin, 30, more as this game goes along. While he’s seen his role diminish this season (he’s averaged 21:25 minutes per game in 2013-14 after logging more than 24 per night the past two campaigns). he’s still a reliable defenseman for a franchise that has literally never been in this position before.