Kapanen placed on IR with lower-body injury, to be re-evaluated in four weeks

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- The St. Louis Blues will be without Kasperi Kapanen for the near future when the forward was placed on injured-reserve with a lower-body injury and will be re-evaluated in four weeks.

Kapanen blocked a shot by Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Nick Seeler with 7:25 remaining of a 4-2 loss on Monday; he was crouched down in pain for a bit before gingerly making his way to the bench not putting any weight on his left leg but finished the game.

"Lower-body injury, probably week to week, which will push him, because we have the break, that will push him until after the [All-Star] break," Blues interim coach Drew Bannister said. "I don't foresee any miracle happening. There's always a possibility there, but probably more or less he'll be ready for us after the break.

"It was late in the game, but certainly to be able to finish that off. Usually a play like that where the puck hit him, a lot of times it bothers you more once you take the boot off compared to when you have it on. That's when it usually arises."

Kapanen has 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in 42 games this season, and at the earliest, would be able to return out of the break against the Buffalo Sabres on Feb. 10.

"He's been playing great as of late blocking shots and playing hard, playing with speed," Blues captain Brayden Schenn said of Kapanen. "It's just one of those things where he's sacrificing his body and got an unlucky bounce."

The Blues have recalled forward Adam Gaudette from Springfield of the American Hockey League and he will be in the lineup on Thursday against the Washington Capitals.

Gaudette leads the AHL with 24 goals and is third with 36 points, and Bannister, prior to joining the Blues on Dec. 13, coached him in Springfield.

"He shoots the puck. He likes to shoot it, he likes to score," Bannister said. "He's obviously had a lot of success when I was there and has continued that success. I think he's first in the league in goal totals and points for league overall. He's really competitive, strong on his stick, battles for pucks, but he's not going to be shy to shoot the puck, that's for sure.

"There's not a lot of give-and-go with him. Once you give it to him, just get to the net because if it's not in the back of the net, there's usually going to be a rebound. He's had a lot of success down there and now he gets the chance to be rewarded by coming up here and getting in games and then hopefully he can have the same success up here as he had down there."

A lot of Gaudette's success came playing on a line with Nathan Walker and Matthew Peca.

"He's definitely playing some good hockey," Walker said of Gaudette. "I'm happy for him to be here as well. It just kind of happened from Day 1. He's a great shooter obviously and a good passer. I just tried to do my best to get in on the forecheck and get him the puck and try to get open and go to the net."

The Blues ran the following lines in practice today ahead of their game against the Capitals:

Pavel Buchnevich-Robert Thomas-Jake Neighbours

Kevin Hayes-Brayden Schenn-Jordan Kyrou

Brandon Saad-Nathan Walker-Oskar Sundqvist

Alexey Toropchenko-Nikita Alexandrov-Sammy Blais

Nick Leddy-Colton Parayko

Torey Krug-Matthew Kessel

Scott Perunovich-Justin Faulk

Jordan Binnington

Joel Hofer

Bannister said that Gaudette, the 2018 Hobey Baker Award winner who last played in the NHL with the Ottawa Senators in 2021-22, would play in the top nine.

"I believe he'll play tomorrow. ... I think he's definitely going to be in our top nine," Bannister said. "I don't think a player like him can sit on our fourth line and expect him to have success. We'll have to find a role for him within the top nine forwards that fits. Being a right shot helps. We'll see when we get there tomorrow."