This situation is considerably harder, from the physical and mental standpoints.
"I've said this the past couple of weeks … this is a really good time for us to evaluate the people we have here, as we go through these next six or seven weeks, and see what we have," Tortorella said. "Do we embrace it, accept the challenge and look at it as an opportunity? Or do we get nervous? I don't have the answer."
Yet.
He doesn't have the answer yet, but is sure looking forward to getting one before season's end.
"You have to do it as a group, but you find out [about] the individuals within that group and how they respond to these types of situations," Tortorella said. "I can't wait. This is what you are as an athlete. We talk about mental toughness, handling situations, resiliency … we're going to have it every night for the rest of the year here. I'm anxious to see how some guys handle it."
News & Notes
I: NUTIVAARA 'BANGED UP'
Markus Nutivaara didn't practice Saturday at the OhioHealth Ice Haus, a day after heading to the locker room prior to the start of overtime Friday against the Philadelphia Flyers.
The 23-year old Finnish defenseman is "banged up," according to Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella, who didn't have any further information to share after practice. Nutivaara, who has 18 points (three goals, 15 assists), has played most recently on the second defense pairing with Jack Johnson.
If Nutivaara is unable to play against Pittsburgh, it's unclear what the pairings will be. Since defenseman Ryan Murray was loaned to Cleveland on a conditioning assignment Saturday, one thing is certain: Scott Harrington will re-enter the lineup if Nutivaara can't go.
Harrington was paired with Johnson in practice.
II: KUKAN GAINING CONFIDENCE
Dean Kukan picked up his fourth assist of the season on Cam Atkinson's game-tying goal late in the third period against the Flyers, in his ninth game this seaso with the Blue Jackets.
Kukan, 24, continues to show improvement each game he plays, skating at the left point on the third defense pairing with David Savard.
"I feel really confident in my game now," Kukan said. "I think it shows that I'm playing with confidence, but there are some small things that I can improve on that I'm working on with [Shaw]. He's talking to me a lot and showing me video."
Kukan made his NHL debut with Columbus in 2015-16, playing eight games without recording a point, but didn't log an NHL game last season.
"I'm really happy right now," said Kukan, who's from Volketswil, Switzerland. "I've been working for this since I came over. It took a while. I mean. I still haven't finally made it to the NHL. I'm really close, but I'm not there yet. I've still got to keep going day-to-day, but it feels really good."
III: NEW LOOK COMING?
During a snappy practice session, the Blue Jackets showed a couple new line combinations.
The most notable was the top line, which was a reunification of the team's most effective combination for much of this season. Artemi Panarin and rookie center Pierre-Luc Dubois got right wing Josh Anderson back on their line, which Tortorella said last week he might eventually put back together.
That change meant Cam Atkinson went from the top group to the third line, playing with Boone Jenner and center Brandon Dubinsky. The second and fourth lines remained the same.
Oliver Bjorkstrand, center Alex Wennberg and captain Nick Foligno are still the second line, while Matt Calvert, Lukas Sedlak and Jussi Jokinen also stayed together.
