Brian Elliott will be in goal when the Blues play host to the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday.
Elliott has not allowed a regulation goal in his last three starts. He leads the league in save percentage (.943), goals-against average (1.48) and is second in shutouts (nine).
As for other lineup changes . . . We'll figure it out,? said coach Ken Hitchcock.
In other words, check back after Wednesday's morning skate.
* * *
The Blues skated through a 45-minute practice on Tuesday at St. Louis Mills. They are hoping two days of practice and a few more games this week will get everybody back up to speed for the playoffs. Players like Andy McDonald, Matt D'Agostini and Roman Polak only recently returned to action after missing significant time.
?You always want to get guys up to speed and when they miss long periods of time you want them to get their timing,? said veteran forward Scott Nichol. ?There's not a better way to do it than the last few games of the year. I think you'd rather have that situation than when you don't have enough guys to fill.?
The re-orientation is not always smooth, particularly when a player is asked to return to action in a reduced role. For instance, Nichol found himself playing with two new wingers on Saturday against Columbus. Matt D'Agostini and Chris Stewart played with Nichol, rather than B.J. Crombeen, Ryan Reaves or Chris Porter.
?It's not always an easy job,? Nichol said. ?There's only 60 minutes in a hockey game, so there's only so much ice time to go around. You sit there for long periods of time sometimes. You might only be playing seven to nine minutes. You have to be mentally focused. You have to watch the play. Maybe your legs aren't always up to speed, but your mind has to be.
?But you know what, I think in everybody's career, at some point they've played on the fourth line. They have an idea how to play it. It might come down to matchups, what the other team looks like or whether you're at home or on the road. You want to put the best team you can on the ice.
?We're all in this together. You kind of have to check your pride at the door and be a good teammate. That's what we have on here.?
Elliott has not allowed a regulation goal in his last three starts. He leads the league in save percentage (.943), goals-against average (1.48) and is second in shutouts (nine).
As for other lineup changes . . . We'll figure it out,? said coach Ken Hitchcock.
In other words, check back after Wednesday's morning skate.
* * *
The Blues skated through a 45-minute practice on Tuesday at St. Louis Mills. They are hoping two days of practice and a few more games this week will get everybody back up to speed for the playoffs. Players like Andy McDonald, Matt D'Agostini and Roman Polak only recently returned to action after missing significant time.
?You always want to get guys up to speed and when they miss long periods of time you want them to get their timing,? said veteran forward Scott Nichol. ?There's not a better way to do it than the last few games of the year. I think you'd rather have that situation than when you don't have enough guys to fill.?
The re-orientation is not always smooth, particularly when a player is asked to return to action in a reduced role. For instance, Nichol found himself playing with two new wingers on Saturday against Columbus. Matt D'Agostini and Chris Stewart played with Nichol, rather than B.J. Crombeen, Ryan Reaves or Chris Porter.
?It's not always an easy job,? Nichol said. ?There's only 60 minutes in a hockey game, so there's only so much ice time to go around. You sit there for long periods of time sometimes. You might only be playing seven to nine minutes. You have to be mentally focused. You have to watch the play. Maybe your legs aren't always up to speed, but your mind has to be.
?But you know what, I think in everybody's career, at some point they've played on the fourth line. They have an idea how to play it. It might come down to matchups, what the other team looks like or whether you're at home or on the road. You want to put the best team you can on the ice.
?We're all in this together. You kind of have to check your pride at the door and be a good teammate. That's what we have on here.?
