Holloway says he's fit to return, Blues call the forward a game time decision; Hofer gets first start since Oct. 29; Bortuzzo returns for first time, will be a healthy scratch
ST. LOUIS -- Dylan Holloway seems himself good to go, but St. Louis Blues coach Drew Bannister said the forward is a game time decision when the Blues (6-6-0) host the Utah Hockey Club (5-5-3) in the third of a five-game homestand at 7 p.m. (FDSNMW, ESPN 101.1-FM).
Holloway was involved in a scary situation on Tuesday when he was hit in the neck area with a puck and was stretchered off the ice and sent to the hospital late in the first period of a 3-2 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Holloway rode the bike on Wednesday and was on the ice for a optional morning skate.
"I felt good, I felt completely normal," Holloway said. "Ready to go.
"... I just want to go out there and kind of forget about it, put it in the past. I feel good, just excited to get out there."
Bannister didn't want to commit to Holloway playing just yet.
"He'll be a game time decision," Bannister said. "Rode the bike yesterday, was out on the ice this morning, pushed himself hard, but we want to see how he reacts through he day so we'll make a decision at game time."
Holloway, although deemed himself fit and ready to go, said it's up to those above him.
"I kind of just left it in their hands," he said. "Talking to the doctor at the hospital, he said no activity for 24 hours, but other than that, I'm fine. All my tests came back good. There's no further, damage, nothing. It was the best news I could get. I feel like I'm ready to go."
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Former Blues defenseman Robert Bortuzzo, who spent parts of 10 seasons with the Blues (2015-24), is back as a visiting player for the first time since the Blues traded him to the New York Islanders last season.
Bortuzzo has since signed a one-year, $775,000 contract with Utah, will be getting a video tribute tonight during the game but will not be in the lineup.
"It's great (being back in St. Louis)," Bortuzzo said. "It wasn't too long ago, spent 10 great years here. Got to see some buddies last night. Pretty special walking in here. Cool looking up at the (Stanley Cup) banner and everything. It kind of feels we really didn't leave, to be honest. Excited to be in Utah and pumped to keep my career going here."
We'll have more from the player his teammates called 'Bobbo' about his role in the NHL, his time spent here and what what it means to be part of a special moment in Blues history.
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Blues Projected Lineup:
Dylan Holloway-Pavel Buchnevich-Jake Neighbours
Brandon Saad-Brayden Schenn-Jordan Kyrou
Alexey Toropchenko-Radek Faksa-Nathan Walker
Alexandre Texier-Oskar Sundqvist-Zack Bolduc
Ryan Suter-Colton Parayko
Pierre-Olivier Joseph-Justin Faulk
Scott Perunovich-Matthew Kessel
Joel Hofer will start in goal; Jordan Binnington will be the backup.
The Blues have no healhy scratches. Robert Thomas (ankle), Nick Leddy (lower body), Philip Broberg (knee), Mathieu Joseph (lower body) and Kasperi Kapanen (upper body) are all out.
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Utah Projected Lineup:
Clayton Keller-Logan Cooley-Dylan Guenther
Matias Maccelli-Barrett Hayton-Nick Schmaltz
Alexander Kerfoot-Nick Bjugstad-Lawson Crouse
Jack McBain-Kevin Stenlund-Michael Carcone
Mikhail Sergachev-Michael Kesselring
Ian Cole-Maveric Lamoureux
Olli Maatta-Jusso Valimaki
Connor Ingram will start in goal; Karel Vejmelka will be the backup.
Healhy scratches include Robert Bortuzzo, Liam O’Brien and Vladislav Kolyachonok. Sean Durzi (upper body) and John Marino (upper body) are out.
