Preview: Sprint to the Finish

Minnesota Wild at Columbus Blue Jackets
Tuesday, January 30, 2018 – 7:00 EST
Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio
TV: Fox Sports Ohio – Radio: WBNS FM
Opponent’s Blog: Hockey Wilderness
Game Faceoff

The Columbus Blue Jackets return from the All Star Break tonight as they play host to the visiting Minnesota Wild. Columbus has not had a great month of January, going just 5-5 in its last 10 games.

The Blue Jackets will, in all likelihood, welcome back center Brandon Dubinsky tonight after he practiced yesterday, slotting in on the third line between Matt Calvert and Oliver Bjorkstrand. Dubinsky has been out since December 12 when he suffered an eye injury in a fight with Zack Cassian of the Edmonton Oilers. Dubinsky returned home last week ahead of the team’s 2-1 victory in Arizona for … some reason which we’re not going to speculate about. Hopefully, whatever ailed Dubinsky is in the past and he can focus on playing well for the club.

Seth Jones, after missing All Star Weekend, will return to the lineup as well. You have to feel for Jones, who was thrilled to be representing the club in Tampa for the second straight season. Jones missed the festivities with the flu, and was admirably replaced by Zach Werenski who notched an assist in the Metropolitan’s defeat to the Atlantic.

Sergei Bobrovsky has been announced as the starter tonight for the Columbus Blue Jackets. The team will hold a morning skate today in preparation for the game after the layoff.

Go Jackets.

UPDATE

After morning skate, Torts gave an injury update on Ryan Murray.

Torts says he’s not sure when D Ryan Murray will return. Sounds like he’s still nowhere close to being back #CBJ

— Steve Gorten (@sgorten) January 30, 2018

Probable Lineups