Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski is day-to-day after injuring his right ankle in a 4-3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks Dec. 20, according to The Athletic.
Werenski was struck by a shot from Anaheim’s Troy Terry with 2:27 left and tried to crawl off the ice. Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins pushed Werenski from behind before teammate Denton Mateychuk reached out with his stick, allowing Werenski to pull himself toward the bench.
All that was not enough to cause officials to whistle the play dead or prevent them from calling the Blue Jackets for too many men on the ice, further stymieing the Jackets’ attempt at a comeback.
Werenski, according to The Athletic, had X-rays on his injured ankle and there was no break. It is unlikely, however, that he will play in a Dec. 22 road game against the Los Angeles Kings, which is the Blue Jackets’ last game before a six-day Christmas break.
Columbus’ first game after the break is at home against the New York Islanders on Dec. 28.