Columbus was being very careful with Dubinsky, who has been somewhat injury prone since coming over from the New York Rangers before the 2012/13 season, missing a third of the Blue Jackets' contests. He will start his comeback in the middle of the third line between Blake Comeau and Matt Calvert.
Originally feared to be a broken ankle, repeated MRIs revealed no structural damage - so it was just a matter of pain management, treatment and rest for the joint.
"It should be a big lift" said coach Todd Richards on Monday, "Our practice gets better with him on the ice. It should be a shot in the arm to our team. He brings so much speed and tenacity with his play.".
Dubinsky's return brightens the Blue Jackets' injury situation and could be the impetus to seeing many of their shelved players on track to activation - center Derek Mackenzie (back spasms) is expected back by week's end and forward Jared Boll (foot) just into next week, while reports emanating from the club have forward Nathan Horton on the fast track to return from off-season shoulder surgery.
The improving injury outlook is a boon for a Columbus team buried in the Metropolitan Division of the NHL's Eastern Conference, their 23 points a distant seventh place - 14 points behind the Pittsburgh Penguins who are running away with the Division - but just five points out of 3rd place.
http://www.sportsinjuryalert.com/2013/12/dubinsky-returns-for-jackets-mackenzie.html
Horton, who had offseason shoulder surgery, is still weeks away from playing, although he has started using heavier weights in recent workouts.
Right wing Marian Gaborik is still at least a couple of weeks away after a knee sprain.
But the return of Dubinsky tonight could be followed by the return of center Derek MacKenzie (back spasms) on Friday and right wing Jared Boll (foot) next week.
- See more at: http://bluejacketsxtra.dispatch.com/content/stories/2013/12/03/jackets-expect-to-get-boost-with-return-of-dubinsky.html#sthash.0BqXMqmP.dpuf
Right wing Marian Gaborik is still at least a couple of weeks away after a knee sprain.
But the return of Dubinsky tonight could be followed by the return of center Derek MacKenzie (back spasms) on Friday and right wing Jared Boll (foot) next week.
- See more at: http://bluejacketsxtra.dispatch.com/content/stories/2013/12/03/jackets-expect-to-get-boost-with-return-of-dubinsky.html#sthash.0BqXMqmP.dpuf
Horton, who had offseason shoulder surgery, is still weeks away from playing, although he has started using heavier weights in recent workouts.
Right wing Marian Gaborik is still at least a couple of weeks away after a knee sprain.
But the return of Dubinsky tonight could be followed by the return of center Derek MacKenzie (back spasms) on Friday and right wing Jared Boll (foot) next week.
- See more at: http://bluejacketsxtra.dispatch.com/content/stories/2013/12/03/jackets-expect-to-get-boost-with-return-of-dubinsky.html#sthash.0BqXMqmP.dpuf
Right wing Marian Gaborik is still at least a couple of weeks away after a knee sprain.
But the return of Dubinsky tonight could be followed by the return of center Derek MacKenzie (back spasms) on Friday and right wing Jared Boll (foot) next week.
- See more at: http://bluejacketsxtra.dispatch.com/content/stories/2013/12/03/jackets-expect-to-get-boost-with-return-of-dubinsky.html#sthash.0BqXMqmP.dpuf
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