Defenseman Ivan Provorov, 29, will miss the Columbus Blue Jackets’ season opener against Buffalo at Nationwide Arena after the team placed him on injured reserve Thursday, according to NHL.com. The move ends a streak of 375 straight regular-season games and is the first time he has missed a game because of injury in his NHL career.
Provorov has a lower-body injury, the team said. Daily Faceoff reported that a shot hit his left ankle in the Blue Jackets’ preseason finale at Detroit on Saturday. The Hockey Writers reported he did not practice this week while the team awaited further tests.
Head coach Rick Bowness said Provorov is week-to-week and called him “heartbroken” about missing the opener. Provorov has played 778 NHL games and missed only three, which were due to COVID protocols in 2022, according to NHL.com.
Defensemen Damon Severson and Dante Fabbro are also week-to-week, Bowness told reporters Thursday. Severson is still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, The Hockey Writers reported.
The injuries changed the Blue Jackets’ defensive pairings. Zach Werenski skated with Denton Mateychuk, and Jake Christiansen paired with Erik Gudbranson, according to The Hockey Writers.
Columbus Frontline will update as more information becomes available on Provorov’s return.