Damon Severson

Damon Severson's shoulder injury lands him on the shelf for the rest of the season, a brutal blow to a Columbus Blue Jackets blue line already scraping by. The veteran defenseman, who logs heavy minutes in all situations, leaves the Jackets even thinner as they fight for positioning in a crowded draft lottery race. Front offices around the league take note, because this kind of injury to a steady top-four guy shifts roster plans in a hurry.

Damon Severson undergoes successful shoulder surgery, putting the Devils' blueliner on a clear path back to the ice. Those close to the organization whisper that this fix was overdue after he gutted through nagging pain all season. With the playoffs looming, New Jersey counts on his return to shore up that top-four pairing that has kept them competitive.

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Damon Severson heads to the shelf week-to-week after a shoulder-to-shoulder hit from Canadiens forward Zachary Bolduc knocked him out of Thursday's tight 2-1 loss in Montreal. The 31-year-old righty anchors the top pair and leads the team with a +18 rating while pacing their blue line in points during his best season yet on that massive eight-year deal.

Jet Greaves stands tall in net for the Blue Jackets, but a late dagger from Zachary Bolduc snaps his shutout bid and hands Montreal a hard-fought win at Bell Centre. Columbus battles back with Damon Severson's tally, yet the Canadiens ride their third straight victory and a lights-out night from Jakub Dobes to pull ahead. With the Jackets surging under Rick Bowness into second in the Metro, this tight loss raises questions about their road resilience as the stretch run looms.