COLUMBUS, ohio — Ryan O’Reilly’s shredded, long-sleeve undershirt looked like something from the Incredible Hulk’s closet. The elbow and shoulder areas were leaking skin because of years of rubbing against sweat and hockey pads.

O’Reilly, nicknamed “Factor,” might need to walk the streets with an ATM strapped to his back to support his wardrobe, but he likes what’s comfortable in the blue collar-attitude locker room.

Sunday, after the Avalanche’s 2-1 overtime loss to the Blue Jackets, the suddenly wealthy 22-year-old center said he’s getting more comfortable with his teammates. “The guys have been great. I didn’t think the guys would be this good about it,” O’Reilly said of being welcomed back after missing training camp and the Avs’ first 19 games.

On the heels of his bitter holdout and unusual restricted free-agent matching war with the Calgary Flames, O’Reilly was humbled in his season debut. He logged 15:52 of ice time, including 2:06 of a possible 4:00 on the power play. He had one takeaway — the stat in which he led the NHL last season (101) — but didn’t produce a shot and won only nine of his 23 faceoffs (39 percent).

His inadvertent own goal tied the game for Columbus during the Avalanche’s second 5-on-3 disadvantage.

“No one said it’s going to be easy for me,” O’Reilly said. “It’s been a whirlwind. Definitely exciting to get back on the ice. I know it’s going to take some time. I know I wasn’t my best. … Not used to the speed. It’s going to take a little bit longer, I guess. Definitely wasn’t my best first penalty-killing shift.”

O’Reilly said he hasn’t addressed the Avalanche, after being advised by the team’s PR staff to just get “back in the routine and (address) each guy individually.” He had dinner in Columbus on Saturday night with one teammate: defenseman Shane O’Brien.

Coach Joe Sacco had O’Reilly center the Avs’ third line, with John Mitchell and Milan Hejduk, and he was at the point on a power-play unit.

“I thought he played OK,” Sacco of O’Reilly. “He was like everybody else. Just average.”

Packing a punch. Cody McLeod and Patrick Bordeleau dropped the gloves for the Avs, fighting Dalton Prout and Jared Boll, respectively. McLeod was bloodied and required stitches above his right eye. It was Prout’s first career NHL fight.

Bordeleau’s fight was in retaliation of his nonpenalized check on Blue Jackets defenseman Nikita Nikitin, who was rocked in the corner and lost his helmet.

Injury report. Defensemen Erik Johnson (concussion) and Ryan Wilson (ankle) are close to returning to the Avs’ lineup. Both skated hard Sunday morning in an optional practice, with Johnson cleared for contact.

Johnson might play Tuesday at Detroit. Wilson has a chance to play Wednesday at Chicago.

Footnotes.The Avalanche’s scratches were forwards Aaron Palushaj and Mark Olver and defenseman Stefan Elliott. Olver has been a healthy scratch in two of the last four games, after playing in the first 16. Elliott and one of the forwards are likely to be sent down to the American Hockey League to make room for Johnson and Wilson. … Goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere traveled to Montreal for his mother’s funeral. Calvin Pickard served as Semyon Varlamov’s backup and will also be reassigned to the AHL upon Giguere’s return. … Columbus tied the series 1-1 against the Avs, with the third and final meeting April 15 in Denver. … The Avs are 2-6-3 on the road.

Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357, mchambers @denverpost.com or twitter.com/ mchambersdp