Blues forward Alexey Toropchenko suffered an upper-body injury in Friday’s season-opening 4-0 win over the Dallas Stars, and coach Jim Montgomery said the Toropchenko injury is “more than day-to-day,” according to NHL.com.
What happened to Toropchenko
Toropchenko left early in the second period after Dallas defenseman Lian Bichsel hit him behind the net and Tyler Seguin followed with a second hit. He grabbed at his upper right arm as he fell and was helped to the locker room by head athletic trainer Ray Barile, according to NHL.com and TSN.
He played eight shifts and 5 minutes 8 seconds before leaving, NHL.com reported. He did not return.
Toropchenko injury timeline
Montgomery said Toropchenko was sore and that the team had not yet had an MRI. TSN reported more information was expected Saturday. No return date has been given.
The Blues play Saturday at Colorado, and his availability for that game has not been announced. We previewed that matchup.
Lineup impact for St. Louis
Toropchenko was projected to play on the fourth line with center Pius Suter and Ross Johnston, according to the Blues’ projected lineup. Johnston is one of five new faces on the roster, along with Mason McTavish, Connor McMichael, Brandon Carlo and Adam Jiricek.
The injury came on a night when Carlo was ejected after a kneeing major in the third period. Read how the Blues entered the opener with Dallas dealing with injuries of its own.
