The Blue Jackets blue-line, already without top-four defenseman Fedor Tyutin, suffered another hit with word that rookie Ryan Murray will miss the next four - six weeks due to arthroscopic surgery on his knee.

Murray, 20, has demonstrated tremendous poise on the back line for the Jackets, belying his youth. Many that have followed the team have said Murray has been the team's most consistent defender this season. He ranks 4th on the team in average ice time, seeing just less than 20 minutes per game.

Among NHL rookie defensemen Murray is fifth in average ice time (19:48) and assists (17).

The latest injury comes on the heels of the team's acquisition of Nick Schultz at the deadline and adds more importance to that addition.

Compounding matters, Nikita Nikitin will also be out of the lineup tonight after suffering a head injury in Thursday's loss.

The defense corps is not the only area Columbus will see some changes; though these are the result of poor performance rather than injury. Following the team's embarrassing 6 - 1 defeat to Chicago, head coach Todd Richards is shaking things up by reinserting physical forwards Corey Tropp and Blake Comeau into the lineup. No final decision has been made as to who will be scratched for tonight's game against Nashville but word is it may well be Cam Atkinson and the recently acquired Matt Frattin sitting in the press box.

With the team chasing one of the Eastern Conference's final playoff positions, points are at an absolute premium. The Jackets need wins and Richards is not going to sit idly by if he feels the team needs a shakeup. However losing three regular defensemen from the lineup is not a shakeup likely to produce may positive results.

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