Blue Jackets’ Adam Fantilli suffers lower-body injury vs. Kraken, will not return

He suffered the injury in the second period after finishing a check on Kraken forward Jared McCann. Fantilli had to hop on one skate off the ice and to the locker room.

Midway through the third period, the Kraken are leading 3-1.

Through 48 games this season, Fantilli has 12 goals and 15 assists for 27 points. Going into the night, Fantilli was tied for second with defenseman Zach Werenski for points on the club, just behind forward Johnny Gaudreau and his 30 points (seven goals and 23 assists). Goaltender Elvis Merzlikins is 8-10-7 with a .901 SV% and a 3.35 GAA.

Fantilli was taken No. 3 overall by the Blue Jackets in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. The 19-year-old was highly sought after following a fantastic freshman season at the University of Michigan, where Fantilli scored 30 goals and 35 assists for 65 points in 36 games.

Going into Sunday night, the Blue Jackets were 15-23-10 with 40 points, last in the Metropolitan Division and possessing the fifth-worst record in the league. They’re 3-5-2 in their last 10 games and have a goal differential of minus-35.

After Sunday’s game, Columbus flies to Missouri to take on the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday before enjoying an 11 days off for the All-Star break. Their first game back is at home as they host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday, Feb. 10.