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Ailing Jackets put Dubinsky (lower body) on IR

Brandon Dubinsky

If it wasn’t for bad luck, Columbus wouldn’t have any.

On Tuesday, the club announced that center Brandon Dubinsky had been placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury, meaning he’d miss at least Thursday’s season opener in Buffalo.

Dubinsky, 28, has been one of Columbus’ most vital contributors over the last few seasons and inked a six-year, $35.1 million extension with the club in July. The former Ranger also had 16 goals and 50 points last season.

As mentioned above, his injury is just the latest in a string of unfortunate events in Columbus. Ryan Johansen, who missed all of training camp and the preseason to a contract impasse, still isn’t with the club (immigration issues). Nathan Horton, last year’s prized free agent addition, is out indefinitely with a degenerative back ailment; Boone Jenner, who played with Horton and Johansen on the top line last year, is sidelined with a broken hand; Ryan Murray, the No. 2 overall pick at the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, is also on IR with a knee injury.

So yeah, some issues there.

The Blue Jackets will hope that some of their players can get back into action soon, because their opening few weeks of the schedule are tough. Columbus plays the defending Eastern Conference champion Rangers in its second game of the season and, on Oct. 18, begins a four-game road swing which includes dates out West against the Sharks, Ducks and reigning Stanley Cup champion Kings.