Blue Jackets' Kirill Marchenko Out Indefinitely After Freak Injury

The team's leading scorer suffered a broken jaw from a stray puck while on the bench during Sunday's game against the Dallas Stars.

Kirill Marchenko, the Columbus Blue Jackets' top scorer with 21 goals and 55 points this season, was struck by a stray puck while sitting on the bench during Sunday's game against the Dallas Stars.
The 24-year-old forward underwent surgery to repair his broken jaw, requiring metal plates and screws, and has been placed on injured reserve with no definitive timeline for his return.
Marchenko's injury occurred during the second period of the game, which the Blue Jackets lost 5-3, and he was immediately taken to a Dallas-area hospital for treatment.
The injury comes as the Blue Jackets hold the Eastern Conference's second wild card spot, just one point ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins, and are already managing other key injuries to players like Boone Jenner and Sean Monahan.
Columbus faces a challenging schedule ahead, including their first-ever NHL Stadium Series game against the Detroit Red Wings, which could have significant playoff implications.