Defenseman was back in practice on Thursday, could play Friday against Lightning; top-line center put on IR with lower-body injury, to be reevaluated in two weeks
MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- The St. Louis Blues got some good news, bad news on the injury front on Thursday.
The team put Robert Thomas on injured reserve with a lower-body injury; he will be reevaluated in two weeks.
Also, defenseman Philip Broberg (concussion protocol) was back at practice Thursday, practicing in full and could be back in the lineup against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday.
With Thomas, who missed Tuesday's 3-0 win against the Carolina Hurricanes, the center aggravated an injury that first occurred Dec. 31 against the Colorado Avalanche and has not skated or played since last Saturday in a 4-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.
"Thomas is not a player tomorrow night; that's all I know," Blues coach Jim Montgomery said prior to the team's release. "Beyond that, I don't have much."
Broberg, who skated as one of the extras but participated in all drills, Montgomery liked what he saw.
"Real good," Montgomery said when asked how the defenseman looked. "Looked like the player he's been all year. He has one more hurdle to go to see if he's going to be a player tomorrow night; we won't know until tomorrow."
Getting Broberg back after just missing one game would be a huge lift for the Blues' blue line.
Thomas, who leads the Blues with 33 points (11 goals, 22 assists) in 42 games this season, joins Mathieu Joseph (elbow infection), Dylan Holloway (high ankle sprain) and Pius Suter (high ankle sprain) on IR.
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