Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Mike McKenna (30) eyes the puck in first-period action against the Buffalo Sabres during an NHL hockey preseason game in Buffalo, N.Y., Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Gary Wiepert
December 04, 2013 - 1:45 PM
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Columbus Blue Jackets have placed goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky on injured reserve with a groin strain that will sideline him for four to five weeks.
The Vezina Trophy winner as the NHL's top goalie last season was injured during the third period of Tuesday night's 1-0 home victory over Tampa Bay. He was hurt while making a spectacular glove save on a breakaway by J.T. Brown. After making the catch, Bobrovsky fell to the ice with his legs spread, his left leg jammed into the goal post. He had to be helped off the ice.
Curtis McElhinney will take over in net for the Blue Jackets. The club called up Mike McKenna from their American Hockey League affiliate in Syracuse, Mass., earlier Wednesday. To make room for McKenna, the Blue Jackets sent down forward Michael Chaput, who had an assist and two penalty minutes in 17 games this season for the team.
The 25-year-old Bobrovsky is 10-11-2 with a 2.72 goals-against average, a .909 save percentage and one shutout in 23 games this season.
In 2012-13, he became the first Blue Jacket to win the Vezina after posting a 21-11-6 record, 2.00 goals-against average, a .932 save percentage and four shutouts in 38 games. He has appeared in 144 career NHL games with the Blue Jackets and Philadelphia Flyers and is 73-45-18 with a 2.53 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage.
McKenna has appeared in 17 career NHL games with Tampa Bay and New Jersey, with a record of 4-9-1 to go along with a 3.49 goals against average and .887 save-percentage.
News from © The Associated Press, 2013