Blue Jackets’ Nathan Horton Out Six Weeks After Abdominal Surgery

The Columbus Blue Jackets beat the Dallas Stars 3-1 on Thursday night and clinched the second playoff berth in franchise history. But the good news turned to bad Friday when the Blue Jackets announced that forward Nathan Horton would miss six weeks following surgery to repair an abdominal injury.

Horton, a former Boston Bruin, has played in just 36 games this season, but he still has been a factor when on the ice. He also has 36 points in 43 career postseason games (all with the Bruins), so his absence in the playoffs likely would affect the Blue Jackets despite the fact they’ve made it this far mostly without him.

If the Blue Jackets go on a run, they could get help from Horton later in the playoffs. As it stands right now, they are set to play the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round. Columbus went 0-5-0 against Pittsburgh during the regular season, so that run seems highly unlikely.

Photo via Twitter/@spacemanslog