(Columbus) Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Damon Severson is expected to miss six weeks of activity after suffering an external oblique muscle injury during his team’s last loss.

General manager Jarmo Kekalainen announced Severson’s diagnosis Tuesday, saying the 29-year-old is expected to be sidelined until after the holiday season.

Severson dove in hopes of keeping the puck in offensive territory in the second period of Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers, but the Blue Jackets still gave up a goal while playing on the power play. He then left the ice surface, and did not return to the game thereafter.

The Blue Jackets are currently on a nine-game losing streak, during which they have let the lead slip away on seven occasions.

“We’re shooting ourselves in the foot,” admitted Blue Jackers rookie head coach Pascal Vincent on Saturday after the loss to the Washington Capitals. We make mistakes at the worst times, and it costs us matches and ranking points. It’s redundant. »

Severson was averaging nearly 21 minutes per game for the Blue Jackets, and he had eight points in 19 games so far this season.

The Blue Jackets will face Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday.