The Blue Jackets got much healthier this week by adding Cam Atkinson and Brandon Dubinsky.
The same cannot be said for the rest of the Metropolitan Division.
Here's the past week's worth of top storylines from around the NHL's most tightly-contested division.
Marc him Down
New Jersey Devils forward Marcus Johansson took a hit that warranted a five-game suspension for Bruins forward Brad Marchand last week.
Oh boy... Brad Marchand (accidentally, they say) elbows Marcus Johansson in the face, MoJo straight to the locker room...
— NHL Daily 365 (@NHLDaily365) January 24, 2018
Does NOT look good on replay. pic.twitter.com/VCcIgcQjZ2
The hit gave Johansson his second concussion of the season, landing the second line wing on injured reserve. He has 14 points in the 29 games he's played this season.
Flying Without Elliott
The Philadelphia Flyers have lost No. 1 goaltender Brian Elliott to injury and it's unclear when he will return. The injury is listed as lower-body, retroactive to Jan. 25.
The team placed Brian Elliott on injured reserve with a lower-body injury on Tuesday morning and recalled Alex Lyon from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. – Sons of Penn
Elliott has been the go-to guy for the Flyers this season, and while their backup Michael Neuvirth has a higher save percentage by 10 points on the year, the records are hardly comparable. Elliott is 19-11-7, while Neuvirth is 5-6-1.
Hundreds of Doubts
Andrew Villa-USA TODAY Sports
The Pittsburgh Penguins could be without defenseman Matt Hunwick Friday when they face the Capitals.
Hunwick sustained an upper body injury in the Penguins' game last week against the Minnesota Wild.
On the season Hunwick averages 18:08 on the ice, typically playing on the Penguins' third defensive pairing.
His Toughness Never Waivers
The New York Rangers made a move to improve their team's physicality Tuesday, by claiming veteran forward Cody McLeod off waivers from Nashville.
McLeod has engaged in six fights this season, tied for third-most in the NHL behind Micheal Haley (11) and Tom Wilson (8), per hockeyfights.com. His personal total exceeds the Rangers’ club total of five. He is credited with 146 career fights.– Larry Brooks, New York Post
This may be something to watch for if the game gets a bit chippy when the Blue Jackets play the Rangers on Mar 20...that's of course assuming McLeod is in the lineup.
Over the Top
While competing in his 1,396th All-Star weekend, Alex Ovechkin won the hardest shot competition.
The hardest shot winner: Alex Ovechkin. pic.twitter.com/iaVqGXBVsE
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 28, 2018
Ovechkin was the only player in the competition to break 100 mph.
Hurricane for a Night
I had half a mind to go undercover as a Hurricanes fan Tuesday night and head to Raleigh just to get of sniff of what the view from the owner's box is like.
The Carolina Hurricanes are notorious for having the league's lowest attendance, and new owner Tom Dundon is already getting creative to help fix that issue.
Dundon extended an invitation to fans sitting in the upper bowl at PNC Arena when the Canes take on the Ottawa Senators, offering them a spot in the lower bowl. If those are taken up, then the suites will open up. And if those are filled to the brim, Dundon will welcome fans into his owner’s box.– Scott Billeck, NBC Sports
This make one think of the scene from "Semi-Pro" when Jackie Moon (Will Ferrell) offered free corn dogs to the stadium if the team scored 125 points, and tried to tackle his own teammate so they wouldn't have to deliver on that promise.
A Dozen in the Coliseum
The New York Islanders will be playing 12 games in their former longtime home, Nassau Coliseum, next season, splitting time between there and current home Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The move comes while the Islanders wait for their new arena, which is being constructed at Belmont Park. They will make similar plans for the following two seasons, per ESPN.
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