At this point, the Columbus Blue Jackets appear to be held together with tape and bits of string. It's been enough to keep them afloat in the Metropolitan Division, as they still remain in third place, but that may not be true for too much longer with four key players having been on the injured reserve since Christmas.
Ryan Murray, Brandon Dubinsky, Cam Atkinson and Alexander Wennberg. All remain on the IR. All will be looking for a late-January to early-February return based on the initial timetables issued following their injuries.
Here's what awaits the Blue Jackets this week, with the mandatory bye week beginning following Friday's game, as those four try to get healthy.
Thursday: Sabre the Moment
The first half of a road and home back-to-back, the Blue Jackets play the Buffalo Sabres at 7 p.m. on Thursday night. The Sabres have walked through the season to this point like a wounded animal, limping to 29 points and a last-place Atlantic Division standing in the second week of January. Hopefully, the Blue Jackets are able to notch a win after two days of rest. Fox Sports Ohio and MSG Buffalo will carry the game.
Friday: Can You Dig It?
The Vancouver Canucks come to Nationwide Arena Friday for a 7 p.m. game against the Blue Jackets. The Canucks are another team faring relatively poorly in their respective divisional race, sitting next to last in the Pacific. They've allowed 140 goals on the year, more than all but four of the NHL's 31 teams. This squad joins the Blue Jackets as one with four players down due to injury, including the tragic case of forward and former Blue Jacket Derek Dorsett, whose career is believed to be over after he suffered a cervical disk herniation in November. This game will be televised by Fox Sports Ohio.
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