St. Louis Blues will be Without Patrik Berglund, Jori Lehtera Against Carolina Hurricanes
After forwards Patrik Berglund and Jori Lehtera both sustained injuries in the St. Louis Blues’ Thursday night overtime win against the Nashville Predators, coach Ken Hitchcock said that the team will be without both players on Friday night against the Carolina Hurricanes. On the bright side, Berglund and Lehtera will both accompany the team on its two-game road trip, which concludes on Sunday against the Washington Capitals. With that knowledge in mind, neither injury is likely to be a long-term ailment.
Unless the Blues decide to use an 11-forward, seven-defenseman lineup on Friday, the injuries to Berglund and Lehtera will necessitate a call up of a forward from AHL Chicago. The team could call on forward Colin Fraser, who played one game with the NHL club earlier this year. However, with two skill players on the shelf it might be best to pass on adding another fourth-line grinder to the lineup and instead to give 21-year-old Ty Rattie, who has 17 goals and 11 assists in 43 AHL games this season, a shot with the big club.
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Others who would be worthy of a promotion include center Pat Cannone, who leads Chicago in points with nine goals and 22 assists, and center Phil McRae, who has 14 goals and 12 assists in 40 AHL games. Those two may have an advantage because of their ability to take face-offs, which could be helpful in the absence of Lehtera.
Forward Joakim Lindstrom, who has dressed in just two of the Blues’ 10 games during the month of January, figures to fill the other vacant spot in the lineup on Friday.