Rumor: Tortorella makes a controversial roster move before Game 2!

This will certainly qualify as a controversial roster move. 

The Columbus Blue Jackets tasted defeat for the very first time in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs this week when they were defeated in Game 1 of their second round series against the Boston Bruins. The Bruins would eventually pick up a huge win in the overtime frame of Game 1 after a somewhat uncharacteristic mistake from Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski. Unsurprisingly the first defeat of the season will result in some changes for Game 2 on the Columbus side of the equation, but what those changes actually turn out to be may come as a huge surprise to observers. 

According to a report from Columbus Blue Jackets insider Aaaron Portzline of The Athletic, the Blue Jackets will be sitting one of their big trade deadline day acquisitions for Game 2 of the series. Although there has been no official announcement from the Columbus Blue Jackets themselves, Portzline reports that forward Ryan Dzingel was left on the ice after practice with the other players expected to be made healthy scratches tonight. That of course would be a big surprise when you consider the fact that Dzingel was brought in at the deadline to add goal scoring specifically for the playoffs, but considering his lack of offensive production in his recent games the move perhaps should not be all that much of a surprise. 

For what it is worth it seems like Dzingel himself is not very happy about being made a healthy scratch for Game 2, and I suppose I can hardly blame him when you consider how important of a game this will be for the Blue Jackets. Portzline is reporting that Dzingel refused to speak to the media following the morning skate, blowing past reporters, another indication that he may in fact be sitting out the game tonight. From Portzline:

Ryan Dzingel walked quickly out of the dressing room, declining to speak with media. “Nothing to say,”he said, without breaking stride.
Appears Wennberg is in for Dzingel, but nothing official from the club.

That would be 24 year old Columbus Blue Jackets center Alexander Wennberg who also declined to speak to the media following the morning skate. Wennberg, through Blue Jackets public relations, informed the media that he would only be available after actually having played in a game. That looks like it will be tonight, although it is still not official.