Prout to IR, Blue Jackets in midst of injury plague

The Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday placed defenseman Dalton Prout on the Injured Reserved List retroactive to November 14th.

The first year blue liner started suffering back spasms and was scratched from the lineup just prior to the 'Jackets overtime loss to Boston on the 14th, and has missed five strait games due to affliction.  Prout will be eligible to return to the active roster no earlier than November 28th.

Prout was a healthy scratch for several games earlier in the season, but has managed to collect an assist and 12 penalty minutes in thirteen games thus far in the season, and has dropped gloves once.

The Blue Jackets are mired in somewhat of an injury plague, having to soldier on without the services of Prout, alternate captain Brandon Dubinsky (foot), right winger Marian Gaborik (knee), left winger Matt Calvert (abdominal strain) and right winger Nathan Horton (Shoulder).

Columbus is in the midst of what some would call the Tour de' Canada, playing six straight games in the territories.  After the overtime loss to the Boston Bruins, The Blue Jackets dropped another overtime loss at Montreal, then sandwiched an embarrassing 7-0 loss to the Edmonton Oilers between impressive victories at Ottawa and Calgary.

The Canadian roadie winds down with contests at Vancouver on Friday night and then at Toronto on Monday.