MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- Once the physical contact began, the writing was on the wall for St. Louis Blues defenseman Justin Faulk.
And not long after practice concluded Monday prior to a quick two-game trip to games Tuesday against the Winnipeg Jets and Wednesday against the Edmonton Oilers, the Blues announced that Faulk has been activated off long-term injured reserve from a lower-body injury and that defenseman Matthew Kessel had been assigned to Springfield of the American Hockey League to make room for the 32-year-old.
Faulk, who has missed the past 12 games when he was injured in a 4-3 win against the Calgary Flames, was paired at practice Monday at Centene Community Ice Center with Torey Krug.
"I think there's a good opportunity that we'll get him in one of the games, if not both of the games," Blues coach Drew Bannister said of Faulk after practice on Monday. "We'll see [Tuesday] how he's feeling after today. Today was probably the first full practice that he participated in where there was some contact and physicality. By all accounts, I think he felt pretty good coming out of it, but I think we'll wait and see how he feels tomorrow."
Faulk, who has 19 points (two goals, 17assists) in 40 games, also missed five games when he sustained a lower-body injury Dec. 29 against the Colorado Avalanche, then returned for five games before re-injuring himself.
Faulk has practiced for the past week, and Monday was his first full contact with the team.
