Blues’ Paul Stastny Out Of Action With A Broken Foot

Bad news for the St. Louis Blues–their second line center Paul Stastny will miss the next five weeks after suffering a broken foot in a game last weekend against Vancouver. Stastny was originally listed as suffering from a ‘lower body injury’ and was sent home to St. Louis in the middle of the team’s Canada road trip. Hopes that he’d recover quickly were not to be and the broken foot was diagnosed earlier today. Stastny has been placed on the injured reserve list and will be out at least five weeks while the broken bone heals.

It’s an unfortunate challenge to a Blues’ team that has looked pretty good so far this season. St. Louis is off to a 5-2 start and in the mix for the lead in the brutally tough Central Division–currently a three way tie between the Blues, the Nashville Predators and the Dallas Stars. The Blues are coming off a lopsided loss to the league leading Montreal Canadiens. Next up for the Blues is a home game against the New York Islanders on Saturday night.

Stastny is a good offensive threat in his own right but his true value was in his ability to facilitate on a line with Alexander Steen and budding superstar Vladimir Tarasenko. Stastny heads to IR with a goal, four assists and a +4 rating. He’s especially valuable on faceoffs and is one of the most accomplished in the league at this too often overlooked component of the NHL game. For now, Jori Lehtera will center the line with Steen and Tarasenko. Lehtera played on a line with Tarasenko for much of last year and the hope is that the two will quickly renew their rapport. 35 year old Scott Gomez will center the third line and generally see more playing time with Stastny on the shelf.

Stastny is the latest injury suffered by the Blues and definitely the most important. Forwards Patrik Berglund is on IR with a shoulder injury as is Robby Fabbri due to a concussion. Defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk should be back in the lineup soon–he’s listed as ‘day to day’ with a lower body injury. =