RECAP: CBJ 4, BUF 2

CLINTON, N.Y. - A cloudy situation on the back end of the Blue Jackets' attack just got a little fuzzier.
What began as a day of fun in the 2018 Kraft Hockeyville USA game at Clinton Arena on Tuesday, won by the Jackets 4-2 against the Buffalo Sabres, shifted into concern as the third period began without star defenseman Seth Jones on the ice.

Now for the bad news, which may also pertain to a leg.
Star defenseman Seth Jones sustained a lower-body injury, likely in the second period, and was removed from the game - potentially making a cloudy situation on the back end even fuzzier.
What began as a day of fun in an NHL showcase event shifted into at least mild concern as the third period began without Jones. Tortorella said Jones will be examined further Wednesday back in Columbus and didn't have any other update on his status.
If he's out with more than a day-to-day type of injury, it could mean the Jackets are down two of their top-six defensemen with about a week left before the season-opener Oct. 4 in Detroit.
Ryan Murray is also out with a groin injury sustained a week ago against the Chicago Blackhawks at Nationwide Arena, which Tortorella said would require "a little time," to heal.
The situation only lends more uncertainty to the moving parts along the blue line for Columbus, which entered the season looking to replace veteran defensemen Ian Cook and Jack Johnson - who signed elsewhere as free agents.

The final three exhibition games were seen as a proving ground of sorts for candidates looking to earn defensive spots with the Jackets to start the season, and one in particular, Clendening, seized the opportunity against the Sabres.
His goal tied it 2-2 in the second period, off a nice give-and-go play with rookie Liam Foudy, which paved the way for the Jackets' forwards to score in the third.
Panarin and Kevin gave Columbus a two-goal cushion in the final period, 4-2, and Korpisalo made it stand up with some excellent play in net.
"He made some really good saves," Tortorella said. "Especially at the end, but he also made some saves throughout the game, so that's encouraging."

Duclair scored his goal on a breakaway in the second, tying it 1-1. He finished with two points, while Foudy continued an impressive ride since Columbus selected him with its first-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft (No. 18).

Foudy has racked up a number of career firsts since then, including his first NHL development camp, first World Junior Summer Showcase, first NHL training camp, first career NHL preseason goal and now, first NHL assist in his first NHL signature event.
He played with Panarin for the first time.
"You can see he can skate," Tortorella said. "You can see his skill. He has some work to do to get where I think he's going to be, but this is his first camp. He's had a ton of skating, but you can see some of the assets that our guys saw and that's why he was drafted. I'm anxious to see how it all works out, how it all plays out. But you can see what's ahead for him."
Foudy isn't the only one being watched in camp.
Stenlund's been impressive, too, going back to leading the team in goals at the 2018 NHL Prospects Tournament in Traverse City (Sept. 7-11), which the Blue Jackets won.
"We're still evaluating players and trying to go about our business," Tortorella said. "[But] for young kids to get involved in something like this … listen, we're entertainers. That's what the game's about. They like playing in front of a crowd like this. They're on top of you, you know they're excited we're in the city, so for some of our young guys to experience it, it's really good for them."
NEWS AND NOTES
Michael Prapavessis went to Traverse City with the Blue Jackets as a free-agent invitee, after not signing with the Dallas Stars following his college career at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).
He impressed at the prospects tournament, earned an invite to NHL training camp in Columbus and has continued to stand out for smart playmaking on the back end. Recently, he's even formed a top pairing with Jones, including Tuesday against the Sabres.
"I didn't know who the hell he was," Tortorella said. "He's had a really good camp. I mean I watch him at the end [of the game] make a play from the goal line, lets it clear out and makes a play. He's playing well and that's why he's still here."
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Upon arrival in the state of New York, the Blue Jackets were met with a heavy rain. The team bus sprung a leak because of it, which took Tortorella back to his playing days in this area - in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League.
"We were busing and the bus had a leak in the roof, when we were busing over with the rain," he said. "That reminded me of the league I played in."