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Bruised Blues could get Stastny back soon

New York Rangers v St. Louis Blues

ST. LOUIS, MO - OCTOBER 09: Paul Stastny #26 of the St. Louis Blues waits for a face off against the New York Rangers on October 9, 2014 at Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Scott Rovak/NHLI via Getty Images)

NHLI via Getty Images

The St. Louis Blues probably won’t get Paul Stastny back as they take on the New Jersey Devils tonight, but he was cleared for contact on Monday and could return sometime this week.

That’s the mostly positive update from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch as of yesterday:

“We put him on the ice for final evaluation,” Head coach Ken Hitchcock said on Monday. “If the evaluation is proper after a full session of contact, we would evaluate him to play in the next three or four games. Today first 100 percent green light from hitting standpoint.”

The Blues are currently on a five-game winning streak despite injuries and a bacterial infection that Hitchcock described as “a rolling thunder through the hockey club.” Still, the team could certainly use Stastny, who has four points in his first four games as a member of the Blues.

The 28-year-old seems like he should integrate into the St. Louis mix seamlessly, as he combines nice offensive skills with the kind of two-way conscience that Hitchcock treasures.

The Blues face the Devils twice this week: in New Jersey on Tuesday and then at home on Thursday. That second Devils game kicks off a five-game homestand, as they also host the Nashville Predators on Saturday.

There’s always a chance Stastny deals with a setback regarding what’s believed to be a shoulder injury, but if things go well, we could see him back early during that upcoming slate of home games. Despite this winning streak, the Blues are likely anxious to get him back in the lineup.

Follow James O’Brien @cyclelikesedins