Report: NHL's Kirill Marchenko Suffers Broken Jaw After Puck Hit Him While on Bench

Columbus Blue Jackets winger Kirill Marchenko suffered a broken jaw after he was struck by an errant puck while sitting on the bench, according to Aaron Portzline of The Athletic.

The incident occurred in the second period of the Blue Jackets' 5-3 loss to the Dallas Stars on Sunday.

Per Portzline, Marchenko was immediately taken to a hospital in Dallas to have his jaw reset during the third period. While his exactly recovery timeline is unknown, the typical timetable for a broken jaw is six to eight weeks.

Marchenko finished with two shots on goal and one assist in just over 11 minutes on the ice before suffering the injury.

The 24-year-old was off to a strong start in Columbus, recording a team-high 21 goals in 53 games played. Marchenko also ranked No. 2 on the Blue Jackets with 34 assists and 55 points, respectively.

He was selected by Columbus with a second-round pick in the 2018 NHL Entry draft, amassing 25 points in 59 games as a rookie during the 2022-23 season. Marchenko took a step forward in his second year, recording 42 points in 78 appearances.

To begin his 2024-25 campaign, he was operating as a key piece in the No. 1 line of a Columbus team searching for its first playoff appearance since the 2019-20 season.

The Blue Jackets currently sit at 26-20-7, holding a narrow lead for the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference with 59 points.

Columbus has been hit hard by injuries this season, as center Sean Monahan is expected to be out until March due to a wrist issue that occurred on Jan. 7. Meanwhile, forward Boone Jenner has yet to make his 2024-25 debut after undergoing shoulder surgery in Oct. 2024.

The Blue Jackets will attempt to maintain their playoff positioning without Marchenko starting with a matchup against the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET.