The St. Louis Blues are facing a tough challenge as injuries continue to sideline key players. It's a frustrating situation for fans, but let's dive into the details of who's in and who's out for their upcoming game against the Carolina Hurricanes on January 13th at the Enterprise Center (6:30 p.m., ESPN+, Hulu, 101 ESPN).
Unfortunately, the Blues will be without two of their top players. Philip Broberg is currently in concussion protocol after a hit from Mark Stone just 55 seconds into the game against Vegas. Coach Jim Montgomery reports that Broberg is "doing well" and is considered day-to-day.
Adding to the team's woes, Robert Thomas is also sidelined due to a re-aggravated injury. Like Broberg, Thomas is listed as day-to-day and missed both Monday's practice and Tuesday's morning skate. This is a significant blow to the team's offensive capabilities.
However, there's a silver lining! Nick Bjugstad is set to return to the lineup for the first time since December 9th. Bjugstad has been out with an upper-body injury, missing a total of 15 games. He's expected to bring a much-needed boost to the team. He'll be skating on the third line alongside Pavel Buchnevich and Jonatan Berggren.
Coach Montgomery highlighted the impact of Bjugstad's return, emphasizing the player's "heaviness" on the ice. He also brings a right-shot center to take faceoffs and is a valuable asset on the penalty kill. His presence is expected to improve the team's performance both offensively and defensively.
But here's where it gets controversial... Do you think the Blues have enough depth to overcome these injuries? What adjustments do you think the coaching staff will make to compensate for the missing players? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
