Blues have nearly as many injuries as victories as five-game home stand begins

Despite losing the six-game road trip finale against Montreal 3-0, the Blues finished with a 4-2 record with all wins coming in regulation. But the news on the health of the team’s top players continues to worsen.

Jaden Schwartz was added to the infirmary with a fractured left ankle, suffered at practice Friday morning. Following the injury, Schwartz was transported to the Washington University Orthopedic Center, where Dr. Matt Matava and Dr. Jeremy McCormick performed successful surgery on the ankle Schwartz is scheduled to be re-evaluated in 12 weeks.

Schwartz, 23, had posted four assists and a plus-4 rating through the Blues’ first seven games this season. The 5-foot-10, 190-pound forward was originally drafted by the Blues in the first round (14th overall) of the 2010 National Hockey League (NHL) Entry Draft. He has produced 139 points (62 goals, 77 assists) in 214 career regular season games and seven points (two goals, five assists) in 18 career postseason outings.

Schwartz’s absence allows for Ty Rattie to slip into the line-up and add some punch. Rattie, the 6’, 178 lb., 22-year old, was lighting up in the AHL with 3 goals and 7 points with a +1 rating in three games for the Chicago Wolves. The Blues hope his magic will continue with the big club.

The latest injury to a top six forward comes after St. Louis lost Paul Stastny to a broken foot in the second period of the Vancouver game, a contest the Blues won 4-3 against the Canucks. Stastny, with a goal and five points in five games with a +4 rating, will be re-evaluated at the end of November to determine the recovery progress and might need additional time on injured reserve.

: Julius Honka fights Ty Rattie for the puck
Photo by Ross Dettman (Chicago Wolves)

After scoring his first career NHL goal, the game-winner, in the season opening win against Edmonton 3-1, Robby Fabbri was injured against Minnesota in the second game of the season. Former Blues forward Chris Porter checked Fabbri aginast the boards striking the St. Louis rookie in the head. The play did not result in a penalty or in supplemental discipline. There is no word on when Fabbri might return.

In the next game against Calgary, All-Star defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk left the game with a groin injury, something he is slowly coming back from and should play early in the homestand. Shattenkirk has one assist and eight shots in just more than two games while averaging 19:34 of ice time.

This adds to the news of Patrik Berglund starting the season on injured reserve after surgery to repair an injured shoulder. Berglund will be re-evaluated after the first of the year.

Injuries allow for a team to give ice time to new players or prospects, but St. Louis needs contributions from the leadership group. Several key players have struggled in the early going.

Blues’ Captain David Backes has been held without a goal in the first six games, registering just two assists, and a -2 rating. He has a total of 14 shots and is averaging 18:53 on the ice. Perhaps the only bright spot in his game is the 54.3% face-off winning percentage. Backes is in the final year of his contract and he needs to be better now.

Dmitrij Jaskin has just two assists in seven games with an even rating, averaging 11:33 a game in ice time. He will be relied upon more as injuries mount.

The Blues sit with a 5-2-0 record and there are many reasons driving their position near the top of the NHL standings.

Vladimir Tarasenko is tied for the league lead in goals (5) and points (9) and a +3 rating. He is average of 19:16 in ice time per game. He has been the player St. Louis needed him to be and will be covered by opponents more carefully as the team’s potent weapons are diminishing.

Alexander Steen has 3 goals and 7 points with a -1 rating and averaging 19:40 of ice time and is second in scoring. Newcomer Troy Brouwer is third in scoring with 2 goals and 6 points with a +4 rating while logging 16:52 in ice time per game.

In goal, Brian Elliott has emerged as the top goaltender. He secured the win at the season opener and after giving way to Jake Allen for the game in Minnesota, has gained three of the four wins on the trip, allowing just 10 goals. He has a 0.918 save percentage and 2.01 goals against average.

The Blues continue at home against the New York Islanders on Saturday, October 24^th, Tampa Bay on Tuesday the 27^th, Anaheim on Thursday the 29, Minnesota on Saturday the 31^st and then head into November to host the Los Angeles Kings on the 3^rd. St. Louis heads back out onto the road for a four-game, 9-day road trip against Chicago, Nashville, New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers.