‘Bubble wrap is what we need’

The Columbus Blue Jackets may want to consider handing out four-leaf clovers or a lucky rabbit’s foot to every player not listed on the team’s injury report.

“Bubble wrap is what we need,” coach Brad Larsen said after losing Patrik Laine to an ankle sprain and then losing three more players Tuesday in a 5-4 overtime victory against the Philadelphia Flyers. “Every time (head athletic trainer) Mike Vogt walks down to my office, I just shake my head, because it’s not like it’s just ‘day-to-day.’ It seems to be bad news … or real bad news.”

The latest injuries took out goalie Elvis Merzlikins for 1-2 weeks with a lower-body injury, defenseman Jake Bean for an undetermined amount of time and made forward Emil Bemstrom a game-time decision for a faceoff Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens. What’s ailing Bemstrom hasn’t been disclosed. He finished the game against the Flyers, but missed practice Wednesday while being evaluated by a doctor. Merzlikins and Bean left in the second period against Philadelphia and both saw doctors Wednesday to assess their issues.

To compensate for Merzlikins’ absence, Laine was moved to injured reserve on Wednesday and rookie goalie Daniil Tarasov joined the team on emergency recall from the Cleveland Monsters to handle the backup role behind Joonas Korpisalo.

The number of players out is now eight, with the possibility of Bemstrom making it nine if his situation worsens (he took part in practice on Thursday). Others out include Laine, Zach Werenski (shoulder), Jakub Voracek (upper body), Justin Danforth (shoulder), Nick Blankenburg (ankle) and Adam Boqvist (broken foot).

ANALYSIS: Florida Panthers early winners of this summer’s blockbuster Matthew Tkachuk trade

SPORTS NEWSLETTER: Sign up to get Sports news delivered daily

Other than Merzlikins, every player out is…