St. Louis Blues Attempt to Lock Up First Round Victory Over Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday
Blues Lineup
The biggest lineup drama for the Blues on Thursday will surround the question of whether defenseman Carl Gunnarsson will return after missing Tuesday’s game with an upper-body injury. Coach Ken Hitchcock said Wednesday that Gunnarsson was day-to-day, but he didn’t give a time frame for the blueliner’s return. If he can’t go Thursday, the Blues are expected to stick with the pairings that they used for Game 4, which include Robert Bortuzzo playing with Joel Edmundson.
It’s also possible that Hitchcock could insert Ryan Reaves back on the fourth line with the series shifting back to Scottrade Center, though with the way Steve Ott has played in the past two games, it’d be difficult to take him out. It should be interesting to see what Hitchock’s plans are on Thursday.
Here’s what the Blues’ lineup could look like for Game 5:
Jaden Schwartz–Jori Lehtera–Vladimir Tarasenko
Alexander Steen-Paul Stastny–Troy Brouwer
Robby Fabbri–Patrik Berglund–David Backes
Scottie Upshall–Kyle Brodziak–Steve Ott
Jay Bouwmeester–Alex Pietrangelo
Colton Parayko-Kevin Shattenkirk
Joel Edmundson–Robert Bortuzzo
Next: Blackhawks Lineup