Parayko, Thomas will play after each dealt with illness; Blues looking to end season-long four-game losing streak

The St. Louis Blues will not only try and end a season-long four-game losing streak but may have to try and do so without some of their key components.

Colton Parayko, who missed Friday's 5-0 loss against the Colorado Avalanche with illness, did not practice Saturday and is questionable for Sunday when the Blues (23-25-4) face the Utah Hockey Club (21-21-9) at 6 p.m. (FDSNMW, ESPN 101.1-FM).

Also, center Robert Thomas left practice early on Saturday and wasn't feeling well himself, according to the club, and is also questionable, so with a team that is deficient on confidence, deficient on overall talent, potentially missing two of the top players doesn't enhance the chances of ending said losing streak.

However, if Thomas is able to play, it appears he will likely center a line with a familiar duo in Pavel Buchnevich and Jordan Kyrou.

The Blues, who have been outscored 16-4 the past four games, continue to search for something, anything that will work.

If Parayko is able to play, Matthew Kessel, recalled from Springfield of the American Hockey League on Friday, is likely to be healthy-scratched, and the expectation is for Parayko, who ended his consecutive streak of games played at 198, to play with Cam Fowler and Philip Broberg and Justin Faulk to be paired.

* UPDATE -- Coach Jim Montgomery's update prior to the game confirmed Parayko and Thomas will play.

Utah has won both previous matchups against the Blues this season, including a 4-2 win just 15 days ago at Delta Center.

Let's see if the Blues want to pay attention to Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz, who have a combined 70 points in their respective careers against St. Louis.

Keller, a Chesterfield native but raised in Swansea, Ill., has 34 points (12 goals, 22 assists) in 30 games against the Blues, and Schmaltz has 36 points (14 goals, 22 assists) in 35 games against St. Louis.

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Blues Projected Lineup:

Pavel Buchnevich-Robert Thomas -Jordan Kyrou

Dylan Holloway-Brayden Schenn-Mathieu Joseph

Jake Neighbours-Oskar Sundqvist-Zack Bolduc

Alexey Toropchenko-Radek Faksa-Alexandre Texier

Cam Fowler-Colton Parayko

Philip Broberg-Justin Faulk

Ryan Suter-Tyler Tucker

Jordan Binnington will start in goal; Joel Hofer will be the backup.

Healthy scratches include Nathan Walker and Matthew Kessel. Nick Leddy (lower body) is out. Torey Krug (ankle) is out for the season.

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Utah Projected Lineup:

Clayton Keller-Alexander Kerfoot-Nick Schmaltz

Matias Maccelli-Barrett Hayton-Josh Doan

Lawson Crouse-Jack McBain-Michael Carcone

Liam O’Brien-Kevin Stenlund-Nick Bjugstad

Mikhail Sergachev-John Marino

Ian Cole-Michael Kesselring

Olli Maatta-Nick DeSimone

Connor Ingram will start in goal; Karel Vejmelka will be the backup.

Healthy scratches could include Vladislav Kolyachonok and Juuso Valimaki. Logan Cooley (lower body), Dylan Guenther (lower body), Sean Durzi (upper body) and Robert Bortuzzo (lower body) are out.