Patrik Laine of the Columbus Blue Jackets (CBJ) has suffered a setback with his clavicle injury and won't play before the All-Star break. Elvis Merzlikins is starting in net for CBJ. Kent Johnson, a B.C. native, is playing in his hometown of Vancouver and has about 20 family and friends attending the game. Johnson's father used to have season tickets to watch the Vancouver Canucks, and Johnson himself is starting in his hometown. The CBJ coach, Pascal Vincent, confirmed Laine's setback and his return to Columbus. The team is on a road trip, and Laine is heading back to Columbus after the injury setback.
Pascal Vincent started the third line, which has BC boy Kent Johnson at left wing. Johnson's dad used to have season tickets in section 318, where the #CBJ forward used to watch #Canucks as a fan. He took a peak up there during morning skate, like last year, and smiled.
#CBJ starters: Johnson - Voronkov - Marchenko; Provorov - Severson; Merzlikins. B.C. boy Kent Johnson gets the start in his hometown.
#Avs Jack Johnson has known Zach Parise since his days at Shattuck, played for his dad J.P. and played with Zach at the Vancouver Olympics. He was pretty excited about the news. https://t.co/UmvhtDC7Yf
#CBJ road trip update -> F Patrik Laine heading to Columbus after injury setback nixes return -> https://t.co/UJzmLb9oqf via @DispatchAlerts
Adam Fantilli plopped down next to Kent Johnson as KJ did his pregame media. When asked how many family and friends he’d have here tonight in his hometown of Vancouver, Johnson said about 20. “Not as many as Fants in Toronto.” #CBJ
Elvis Merzlikins in net tonight at Vancouver. Patrik Laine (clavicle) has had a setback with his injury and is returning to Columbus. He won’t play before the All-Star break. #CBJ
Laine is headed back to Columbus. #CBJ coach Pascal Vincent says there’s been a “setback” of some sort and he won’t play before the end of the trip, as hoped.
Patrik Laine not skating this morning for #CBJ … forward lines are the same as CGY. Defense: Werenski-Gudbranson Provorov-Severson Bean-Peeke. Elvis Merzlikins appears to be starting.
Thinking of making this a regular feature when we head back to players’ hometowns. I chatted with Kent Johnson this week about his return to Vancouver, how he got into hockey and what it means to him to play at home. #CBJ https://t.co/SXPpV7bYCA