WILD (26-18-5) at BLUE JACKETS (27-19-3) 7 p.m. ET; FS-O, FS-N, NHL.TV
Dubinsky has missed the past 18 games since sustaining an orbital bone fracture on Dec. 12. Jones missed the 2018 NHL All-Star Game in Tampa on Sunday because of illness. He was replaced by his defense partner, Zach Werenski. With the return of Dubinsky, the Blue Jackets finally have three top forwards who missed significant time back in the lineup. Cam Atkinson returned Jan. 25 after missing 11 games with a broken foot, and center Alex Wennberg has played five games after sitting for eight with a back injury. Minnesota is 4-1-1 in its past six games but 1-5-0 on the road since Dec. 22.
Players to watch
Wild forward Jason Zucker has four goals and two assists during a six-game point streak. He has 11 points (five goals, six assists) in his past 13 games. Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno has five assists in the past four games and seven points (two goals, five assists) in the past seven.
They said it
"We have to find an answer very soon as to why we're nowhere near as good on the road as we are at home. Something's weird." -- Wild coach Bruce Boudreau, whose team is 9-14-1 on the road and 17-4-4 at home "You want to be out there battling with the guys. You want to be able to relate with them with the ups and downs that happen in games and situations. It's nice I get to be a part of that." -- Blue Jackets center Brandon Dubinsky
Niederreiter is expected to play Friday at home against the Vegas Golden Knights. He has missed the past seven games since Jan. 9.
Stat pack
Suter is one assist from 400 in his NHL career. … Marcus Foligno has five points (one goal, four assists in the past five games. Jones has 17 points (five goals, 12 assists) in his past 18 games.
