Wennberg, Dubinsky might return

The Blue Jackets are aiming to have both of their previously ailing centers back in the lineup tonight at the New Jersey Devils.

Alexander Wennberg and Brandon Dubinsky practiced for a second straight day and were activated from injured reserve on Tuesday during a flurry of roster moves. Wennberg (foot) has been on injured reserve since Nov. 11 and Dubinsky (infected elbow) since Nov. 16 (retroactive to Nov. 10).

Dubinsky was held out of contact on Monday but practiced without limitation on Tuesday.

“I’m not sure what happens (tonight), but he practiced well the past couple of days,” coach John Tortorella said of Dubinsky.

Dubinsky was expected to miss two to three weeks. He said he possibly could use a couple more days of practice before returning to the lineup.

“I feel good, but I’ve been out for a while,” he said. “I’ll travel and practice (today) and practice on Thursday, and then we’ll see where we’re at.”

But the Jackets placed another forward, Rene Bourque, on injured reserve because of an upper-body injury and assigned another, Josh Anderson, to the minorleague Lake Erie Monsters. Those moves left the team with only 12 active forwards, including Dubinsky and Wennberg. Tortorella said after practice that both were close to returning.

Bourque is expected to miss at least a week. The Blue Jackets also placed defenseman Cody Goloubef (broken jaw) on injured reserve. He was struck by an errant shot on Friday against Nashville, underwent surgery the next day and is expected to miss six weeks.

Finally, the Jackets recalled defenseman Justin Falk from Lake Erie, presumably to serve as an extra defenseman against the Devils.

Walk this way

Tortorella was asked whether Lake Erie’s systems and playing style have been tweaked to match the parent club’s changes since he took over on Oct. 21.

“That’s something we’re trying to find some time on; I have not spoken to the coaches (for the Monsters),” Tortorella said. “We’ve had so many things, and there’s still plenty to do here. We’re trying to get together with our schedules so we can sit and talk about that.”

Since taking over for Todd Richards, Tortorella has intensified the Blue Jackets’ video sessions, increased their pace of practice and changed their defensive-zone breakouts. Some of that will be implemented in Lake Erie’s play, Tortorella said, but not all of it.

“You want to play similar, but you have to find a way to win down there,” he said. “You develop kids in a winning atmosphere. That’s the best atmosphere. I just don’t think you need to lock into an exact style.”

Under coach Jared Bednar, the Monsters are off to a 10-4-0-2 start.

Slap shot

Devils forward Patrik Elias, the team’s career scoring leader, could make his season debut tonight. Elias has not played because of an injury to his right knee, but coach John Hynes told reporters that “there’s a good chance” Elias will return tonight or Friday.