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Dubinsky to the rescue? Crashing Jackets lose Anisimov

Winnipeg Jets v Columbus Blue Jackets

Artem Anisimov

NHLI via Getty Images

As if things weren’t bed enough for the Blue Jackets, Artem Anisimov sustained an upper-body injury on Saturday and won’t be available Monday, per the Columbus Dispatch. Columbus will have to try to end its six-game losing streak without him. This comes just days after a TSN report indicated that the Blue Jackets and Edmonton Oilers were discussing a swap that would involve Anisimov and David Perron.

There is a silver lining though as Brandon Dubinsky (abdominal surgery) is getting close to returning and might even be able to make his season debut Monday.

“I haven’t spoken with Brandon yet today,” Blue Jackets coach Todd Richards said, “but he skated in Nashville yesterday ... had a good, hard skate and said he felt really good afterward. I don’t know how he feels today.”

Columbus finished 2-9-2 in November, which is a franchise worst for that month. With a 6-15-2 record overall, Columbus’ record is two points worse than the 29th place Oilers.

“It leaves you scratching your head ... trying to find solutions,” Richards said. “Why? Where? When? All of those questions. You back-track, you go over everything. Was it a moment, a succession of games? Was it weeks? Was it a period? You try to find those answers.”

The Blue Jackets have dealt with more than their fair share of injuries this season with Anisimov only being the latest victim. At least getting Dubinsky back would be a step in the right direction, given how helpful he was in the team’s run to the 2014 playoffs.

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