The Columbus Blue Jackets have a chance to clinch a playoff berth on Sunday afternoon if they can defeat the New Jersey Devils.
They will have to do it without their top center, Alexander Wennberg.
Wennberg will not play on Sunday due to a stiff neck and is being held out as a precaution according to coach John Tortorella (via Aaron Portzline of the Columbus-Dispatch).
The 22-year-old center played 16 minutes for the Blue Jackets on Saturday night but was on the receiving end of a hit from Ryan Strome that sent him head first into the boards and left him shaken up.
Wennberg has been one of the Blue Jackets’ breakout stars this season and one of the driving forces behind their stunning season that has them in contention for the best record in the NHL down the stretch. He is currently the Blue Jackets’ second leading scorer with 54 points (12 goals, 42 assists) in 70 games this season. He only recorded 60 points total in his first two years in the league.
With Wennberg out of Sunday’s game William Karlsson will take his spot on the Blue Jackets’ top line.