In the opening few games, the third defensive pairing of Gabriel Carlsson and Ryan Murray had been rock solid.
Unfortunately for the Blue Jackets, the pairing is now broken up thanks to an upper-body injury suffered by Carlsson on Friday night vs. the New York Rangers. And today, Carlsson was placed on injured reserve, the team announced, while in a corresponding move blueliner Markus Nutivaara was recalled from Cleveland.
Whether Nutivaara will slot into the lineup Tuesday vs. Winnipeg remains to be seen as Scott Harrington was deputized during Saturday's game vs. Minnesota. Playing with Murray, Harrington played just over 11 minutes with Murray and had a mixed performance, including a penalty that led to a Wild power-play goal. He also was on the ice for three high-danger chances against, per Natural Stat Trick.
Nutivaara made the team's initial 23-man roster but ended up in Cleveland to begin the season, playing in three games with the Monsters. He was a key part of the team last year on the third pair with Murray for most of the season, playing in 66 games with two goals and five assists. He was impressive in his postseason debut, netting a goal and an assist and posting impressive shot rate numbers in a pair of Stanley Cup Playoffs games.
Thought largely to be a defensive defenseman coming into the season, the rookie Carlsson had an assist in the first four games as well as seven shots on goal. Head coach John Tortorella described him as "a little nicked up" before Saturday night's game vs. Minnesota.
