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Blue Jackets’ Bobrovsky has been dealing with upper-body injury

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T.J. Oshie and the Washington Capitals host Claude Giroux and the Philadelphia Flyers during Star Sunday on March 24 at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

When Sergei Bobrovsky did not play in the Columbus Blue Jackets’ loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night, coach John Tortorella said it was because his goalie was “nicked” and gave no further explanation.

Given that it was the third time the Blue Jackets had not dressed their starter for a key game down the stretch as they try to make the playoffs, it was enough to speculate that perhaps he has been injured for some time now. Especially after the team added Keith Kinkaid at the trade deadline from the New Jersey Devils.

On Saturday, we got a little bit of clarification on what exactly Bobrovsky has been dealing with.

The Blue Jackets’ goalie told the Columbus media that he has been dealing with an upper-body injury that has been bothering him for a while, and that he did not feel he was healthy enough to help the team on Thursday in Edmonton (it likely wouldn’t have mattered as the Blue Jackets only managed a single goal in a 4-1 loss).

Bobrovsky was back at practice on Saturday but said, via Jackets insider Jeff Svoboda, that he will have to see how he feels on Sunday before his status for their game in Vancouver is determined.

As of Saturday the Blue Jackets are in ninth place in the Eastern Conference and one point out of a playoff spot.

Depending on what happens with the Montreal Canadiens’ game on Saturday night when they play the Buffalo Sabres, the Blue Jackets could find themselves as many as three points out when they take the ice the on Sunday in Vancouver.

In 55 games this season Bobrovsky has a .909 save percentage for the Blue Jackets.

Like many other key players on the roster, including trade deadline acquisitions Matt Duchene and Ryan Dzingel, he is eligible for unrestricted free agency after this season.

Adam Gretz is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @AGretz.