The Blue Jackets get the services of center Alexander Wennberg back tonight in a home game vs. Toronto, while veteran winger Scott Hartnell will be out of the lineup for Columbus.
Wennberg missed a single game after a hard hit into the boards Saturday vs. the Islanders. The centerman has been one of the best distributors in the league this year with 42 assists, tied for 14th in the league, to go with 12 goals in 70 games. The contest missed vs. the Devils on Sunday was his first game out all season.
Hartnell being out might be a bit of a surprise as the NHL veteran has 13 goals and 21 assists in 69 games, not to mention a plus-14 rating. But the 34-year-old hasn't scored since potting two tallies Jan. 21 vs. Carolina, and Tortorella said Tuesday he wanted to see what youngster Lukas Sedlak, normally a center, could do on the wing.
"I don't know if he can play left wing," Tortorella said, "but I'm certainly gonna look to see if he can."
Sedlak figures to play with center William Karlsson and right wing Matt Calvert, while Wennberg should center a line with captain Nick Foligno and the streaking Oliver Bjorkstrand.
Lauri Korpikoski also will remain a scratch for the Blue Jackets up front.
Defensively, the Jackets will stick with Markus Nutivaara in the lineup with Scott Harrington scratched. In goal, Columbus will start Joonas Korpisalo with Sergei Bobrovsky saved for tomorrow's clash at Washington.
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