Faulk game time decision; Sundqvist out, Joseph in for lineup on Friday; despite loss Thursday, Senators have been playing really good hockey since start of December

ST. LOUIS – Justin Faulk is a game time decision and Oskar Sundqvist will not play on Friday when the St. Louis Blues (18-17-4) entertain the Ottawa Senators (19-16-2) at 7 p.m. (FDSNMW, ESPN 101.1-FM).

Faulk (upper-body injury) reaggravated an injury on Tuesday at the 2025 Discover NHL Winter Classic in a 6-2 win against the Chicago Blackhawks; he missed roughly six-plus minutes of the end of the second period but returned for the third and finished with a goal and two assists. Faulk took part in the optional morning skate on Friday but missed Thursday’s practice.

If Faulk can't go, Scott Perunovich, a healthy scratch the past four games and seven of the past 11, would be inserted into the lineup.

Sundqvist is sick, did not skate Thursday or Friday and will be replaced in the lineup by Mathieu Joseph, who has been a healthy scratch in three of the past five games, including the past two.

“Need to see more tenacity checking-wise,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said of Joseph. “Creating more turnovers. The way I kind of see [Nathan] Walker and [Alexey] Toropchenko. I can put them out against anyone. I have that trust and belief. He’s got to get to that same area. Offensively, his skating obviously and holding onto pucks, he’s been really good.”

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The Senators, who played against the Dallas Stars on Thursday and lost 4-2, were 9-3-1 in December and have thrust themselves back into the Eastern Conference playoff race, led by local talent Brady Tkachuk (17 goals, 20 assists).

“They play hard, they’re physical,” Montgomery said. “They go hard to the net and they defend their net very well, and there’s a lot of speed, especially on the top three lines.”

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Blues Projected Lineup:

Brandon Saad-Robert Thomas-Pavel Buchnevich

Dylan Holloway-Brayden Schenn-Jordan Kyrou

Jake Neighbours-Mathieu Joseph-Zack Bolduc

Alexey Toropchenko-Nathan Walker-Alexandre Texier

Cam Fowler-Colton Parayko

Philip Broberg-Justin Faulk

Ryan Suter-Tyler Tucker

Jordan Binnington is projected to start in goal; Joel Hofer would be the backup.

The healthy scratch is projected to be Scott Perunovich. Nick Leddy (lower body), Radek Faksa (lower body) and Oskar Sundqvist (illness) are out. Torey Krug (ankle) is out for the season.

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Senators Projected Lineup:

Brady Tkachuk-Shane Pinto-Ridly Greig

Adam Gaudette-Tim Stutzle-Drake Batherson

Nick Cousins-Josh Norris-Claude Giroux

Cole Reinhardt-Noah Gregor-Zack Ostapchuk

Thomas Chabot-Nick Jensen

Jake Sanderson-Travis Hamonic

Tyler Kleven-Artem Zub

Anton Forsberg is projected to start in goal; Leevi Merilainen would be the backup.

Healthy scratches are projected to be Jacob Bernard-Docker and Nikolas Matinpalo. David Perron (upper body), Linus Ullmark (back) and Michael Amadio (head) are out.