With Cam Fowler (personal) returning from a one-game absence, Kessel will be the odd man out of the lineup against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 24-year-old Kessel is averaging 13:04 time-on-ice and has three points (0G / 3A) in 28 games this season.
Matthew Kessel will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Penguins, allowing Fowler to return from a one-game absence due to personal reasons. The 33-year-old Fowler is averaging 21:49 time-on-ice and has 25 points (7G / 18A) in 51 games this season.
The Blues have points in nine of their last 10 games (7-1-2) and will roll with Binnington between the pipes on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 31-year-old Binnington saved 21 of 24 shots (.875 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 4-3 win over the Anaheim Ducks. Binnington has been solid since returning from the 4-Nations Face-Off, posting a 2.12 GAA and .915 SV% in six games (5-1-0). The Blue enter Thursday's contest as -123 road favorites against a Penguins squad riding a two-game winning streak.
Berggren will be the odd-man out up front on Monday in order to make room for Craig Smith's Red Wings debut. Berggren has ten goals and nine assists in 61 games this season.
Binnington will get the nod between the pipes for the 43rd time this season when the Blues travel to Anaheim on Friday. The Blues franchise netminder is enjoying a nice run of form since returning from a successful Four Nations break, posting a 4-1-0 record and a .923 SV%. He was particularly sharp in Los Angeles on Wednesday, stopping 21 of the 23 shots he faced in a 3-2 shootout victory over the Kings. Binnington is a good bet to stay in the win column on Friday as the Blues enter action at -150 on the money line.
Kessel averaged 13:05 time-on-ice and scored three points (0G / 3A) in 27 games with the Blues earlier this season but has not played a game with the club since January 31st. The 24-year-old defenseman has 17 points (5G / 12A) in 29 games with the Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL) this season.
Bjugstad was originally said to be missing from practice due to an illness, so it's unclear whether or not this is actually a new injury. The team added he is considered day-to-day, so he is not expected to be out long-term.
Parayko leads all Blues' players in time-on-ice this season, averaging 23:51 per game, and will likely be out of the lineup for the duration of the season. The 31-year-old Parayko represented Canada at the 4-Nations Face-Off and has been enjoying a great season in St. Louis, scoring 35 points (15G / 20A) in 62 games.
Samuel Helenius was recalled and will return to Los Angeles lineup on Wednesday, meaning Akil Thomas will head to the press box as a healthy scratch vs. St. Louis. The 25-year-old Thomas has failed to produce offensively this season, with just a goal and three points in 23 games played.
The Blues had a four-game winning streak before losing 6-3 to the Dallas Stars on Sunday. They will attempt to return to the win column on Wednesday with Binnington between the pipes against the Los Angeles Kings. The 31-year-old Binnington saved 25 of 26 shots (.962 SV%) in his most recent start, a 4-1 win over the Kings. He has a 2.81 GAA and .899 SV% in 43 appearances this season (18-20-4). The Blues enter the action on Wednesday as +133 road underdogs against a Kings squad amid a four-game losing streak (0-3-1).
The Blues had a four-game winning streak before losing 6-3 to the Dallas Stars on Sunday. They will attempt to return to the win column on Wednesday with Binnington between the pipes against the Los Angeles Kings. The 31-year-old Binnington saved 25 of 26 shots (.962 SV%) in his most recent start, a 4-1 win over the Kings. He has a 2.81 GAA and .899 SV% in 43 appearances this season (18-20-4). The Blues enter the action on Wednesday as +133 road underdogs against a Kings squad amid a four-game losing streak (0-3-1).
With Vitek Vanecek being traded to the Florida Panthers, the Sharks have recalled goaltender Georgi Romanov from the San Jose Barracuda (AHL). The 25-year-old Romanov has a 3.10 GAA and .905 SV% in 21 games with the Barracuda this season (11-6-3).
Bjugstad did not practice on Tuesday due to an illness but will have two full days to recover before Utah returns to the ice on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings. The 32-year-old Bjugstad is averaging 12:39 time-on-ice and has 15 points (5G / 10A) in 53 games this season.
