The Columbus Blue Jackets activated Patrik Laine off injured reserve Saturday morning, and the forward scored a goal in his team’s 5-4 loss to the Detroit Red Wings.
Laine, 25, had been sidelined since absorbing a high hit from Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson as the final horn sounded in the Blue Jackets’ 3-1 win Oct. 20 in Columbus. Andersson hit Laine as the latter was attempting to score into an empty net.
Andersson received a four-game suspension from the NHL for charging.
On Saturday, Laine’s goal in the third period cut the Blue Jackets’ deficit to 5-4, but Columbus couldn’t find a tying goal as it fell to 1-5-3 in its past nine games.
Laine has three points (2 goals, 1 assist) in five games this season and 382 points (200 goals, 182 assists) in 467 career games since being selected by the Winnipeg Jets with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 NHL draft. He was acquired by the Blue Jackets on Jan. 23, 2021, with Columbus native Jack Roslovic in exchange for Pierre-Luc Dubois and a third-round pick in the 2022 NHL draft.
Also on Saturday, the Blue Jackets assigned defenseman David Jiricek to Cleveland of the American Hockey League. Jiricek, who turns 20 this month, has three points (one goal, two assists) in 10 games this season with Columbus.
Reuters contributed to this report.
