Max Domi played far sooner than the Columbus Blue Jackets expected when he suited up for the team's preseason finale against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday night.
Domi played over 13 minutes and scored a goal in his first 2021-22 exhibition game after undergoing surgery to repair a labral tear in his right shoulder in June.
The Blue Jackets fell to the Penguins, 4-3, in overtime.
At the time of Domi's procedure, the Blue Jackets projected he'd need five-to-six months to recover, putting him on track to return by early November or December.
Columbus will open the regular season Thursday against one of Domi's former teams, the Arizona Coyotes. Blue Jackets head coach Brad Larsen hasn't confirmed Domi will play.
The 26-year-old forward struggled in his first season with Columbus, collecting nine goals and 15 assists over 54 games. The club acquired him from the Montreal Canadiens in a trade for winger Josh Anderson last October.