Erik Gudbranson

Tanner Jeannot drops the gloves with 6-foot-5 Erik Gudbranson, and Mark Kastelic answers the bell against Mathieu Olivier just seconds later, flipping the script on a 3-0 Columbus lead at Nationwide Arena. Those heavyweight tilts wake up a Bruins team that's been grinding through injuries and tough stretches all season, setting the stage for Jeremy Swayman to stonewall the Blue Jackets down the stretch.

Erik Gudbranson sits as a game-time call for Tuesday's matchup, leaving Columbus coaches sweating the blue line. The veteran defender's status hangs in the balance after recent bumps, and his presence could shift the entire defensive scheme. Teams like his always feel the pinch when tough customers like Gudbranson toe the line uncertainly.

Erik Gudbranson eyes a Saturday return, giving coaches a veteran blueliner amid injury scrambles. He slots in seamlessly on the third pair, stabilizing shifts that rookies fumble. Fantasy streams light up when he draws in, especially against soft matchups. GMs value his reliability as playoffs loom large.

Columbus defenseman Erik Gudbranson, fresh off a brutal hip injury that shelved him for 38 games, leaves his latest game with an upper-body issue that has the Blue Jackets' training staff scrambling. The 34-year-old vet just reclaimed his shutdown role on the blue line, chipping in points and hits while stabilizing a banged-up back end desperate for his physical presence.