Morning Skate Report: Jets at Blue Jackets

COLUMBUS - Pierre-Luc Dubois admits it was a little weird walking into Nationwide Arena on Wednesday.
After all, he played 219 games for the Columbus Blue Jackets between 2017 and 2021 and was the team's third overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft.
Of course, he's now a member of the Winnipeg Jets, so instead of turning toward the home team's dressing room on game day in Columbus - he had to walk right by that door and into the visitors' room.
"I haven't been in this room since development camp my second year," said Dubois. "it's good to be back. I saw some of the guys this morning. I've said this before, I have great memories of being here. So it's definitely special being back."
The 23-year-old, who had 66 goals and 159 points in a Blue Jackets jersey, admits he isn't quite sure what to expect from the fan base as he takes the ice. It's a tough balance to soak in the atmosphere but stay focused on the job at hand as the Jets try to snap a three-game winless skid.

"When I was in my prospect game at 17, my agents told me to look around during the warm-ups and get familiar with the environment and you'll be ready to go," Dubois said. "So tonight it might take me part of the warm-up, maybe the first shift or second shift, and then after that, it should feel like a normal game."

He has teammates to lean on, though. Dubois has already spoken to Brenden Dillon, who made his return to San Jose earlier this season, and he can also chat with Riley Nash.
Nash played three seasons in Columbus (overlapping with Dubois for two of them). It may also be Nash's first time back to Nationwide Arena tonight, but the 32-year-old has made returns to old buildings before - those being Carolina and Boston.
"I'm definitely familiar with it. It's nice seeing the old faces again," Nash said. "I built some really good relationships here. It was just three years, in hockey years that's a pretty long time. The way my career is going, that's a really long time. So it's nice to come back here and see the familiar faces, say hi, and catch up a little bit."
The Jets won't make any line-up changes tonight as they begin a three-game road trip.
Paul Stastny participated in the morning skate but not in line rushes. Head coach Paul Maurice said the veteran forward will get worked hard today, as well as practice in Minnesota on Thursday, and could be a possibility against the Wild on Friday.

With Stastny set to miss his eighth consecutive game, the Jets line rushes looked like this:
Copp-Scheifele-Ehlers
Connor-Dubois-Wheeler
Harkins-Lowry-Svechnikov
Toninato-Nash-Vesalainen
Morrissey-Schmidt
Dillon-Pionk
Stanley-DeMelo
Despite the results over the past three games, the Jets have liked a lot of what they've done on the ice.
The shootout loss to Edmonton might have been Paul Maurice's favourite game of the season so far. Winnipeg out chanced the Vancouver Canucks the very next night in a regulation loss, then had one period they'd like to have back against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The discussion prior to Tuesday's flight in Columbus was about sticking with the process. The Jets have four goals in three games, but know if they keep generating offence and increase the amount of time they spend in the opposition's zone, the success will come.
"We're just trying to build off that kind of stuff, not getting too down on the results," said Nash. "Even the Pittsburgh game, I thought we played fairly well and had a chance to win. It seems like we're in the game every night and having a chance to win, that's all you can ask for."
As for the Blue Jackets (10-6-0), they've won three of their last four games, highlighted by a 7-4 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Monday.
Jack Roslovic, who was involved in the Dubois trade, scored his first two goals of the season win the win over Buffalo, and added an assist.

Patrik Laine won't play tonight as he continues to deal with an injury, as well as the loss of his father a few days ago.
"I'm really sorry about that. The guys in here really liked him," said Dubois. "We're all feeling for him. Hopefully I get to play against him in Winnipeg."
In tonight's tilt against the Blue Jackets, Maurice knows the Jets will need to play at a high pace.
"They're playing like a team, I think they've scored 19 in their last four, so they've scored some goals," Maurice said. "I think it fits with the games that we've played. I think Crosby and Carter, mostly through the two Edmonton games, we've played some teams that can do damage off the rush. I think we've handled that pretty well but that will be our test tonight."
In a building where Dubois has made so many memories, he's looking forward to making more tonight.
"I remember my first training camp, after the skates (early in camp), walking down this hallway when I could barely walk," he said. "My first game, first goal. I have family and friends here. I have great memories of being here, the players and staff, the coaching staff, but also the trainers and all the people behind the scenes. I have great memories here."
Puck drop is set for 6 pm CT.