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Blue Jackets center Sean Kuraly is "week-to-week" after injury against Canadiens
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- Blue Jackets center Sean Kuraly is "week-to-week" after injury against Canadiens
Blue Jackets center Sean Kuraly will miss the next several games with a lower-body injury sustained in Tuesday night's 3-0 loss at Montreal , coach Pascal Vincent said Wednesday.
Vincent said Kuraly is "week-to-week" after being hurt midway through the third period.
Feb 29, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets center Sean Kuraly (7) makes a pass during the third period of the NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes at Nationwide Arena. The Blue Jackets lost 4-2.
The news was better on right wing Yegor Chinakhnov, who sustained an upper-body injury in the first period Tuesday and did not return. Vincent termed his timetable day-to-day.
March 9, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Yegor Chinakhov (59) is pursued by Nashville Predators defenseman Dante Fabbro (57) during the third period of a hockey game Saturday at Nationwide Arena.
The Blue Jackets added forward Mikael Pyyhtia (pronounced PEW-tee-uh) as an emergency recall from the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League. Pyyhtia played in two games at the end of last season, registering one assist.
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Kuraly has only nine goals and eight assists in 57 games this season, but that's not how the Dublin native's value to the Blue Jackets is best measured.
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"He's a glue guy," Vincent said. "He's a leader. He brings intensity. He brings people in the fight. Huge on the (penalty kill). He competes hard −just that alone is huge. Key faceoffs. It's so many things."
Vincent said he expects Kuraly back before the end of the season.
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"I certainly hope so," he said. "I believe so. Knowing Kuraly, it might be a few days. He's a tough man."
Right wing Kirill Marchenko missed Tuesday's game with an illness. Vincent said he hopes he'll be back for Thursday's home game against Ottawa .
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"He feels better today," Vincent said. "He's still a bit pale, but he feels better. He should be good tomorrow."
Forward Alexandre Texier was not at Wednesday's practice, but Vincent said it was merely a maintenance day for him.
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The Blue Jackets are also without right wing Justin Danforth (concussion).
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Blue Jackets center Kuraly will miss weeks after injury Tuesday night
