Tarasenko Out Five Months

The St. Louis Blues announced Monday that @Vladimir Tarasenko will require surgery on his injured left shoulder. He will be re-evaluated in five months, putting his season in jeopardy.

Tarasenko was red-hot prior to the injury, recording a point in five straight games. He suffered the injury in the first period of last Thursday’s game against the Kings. The Russian superstar registered three goals and seven assists in ten games this season.

https://twitter.com/HockeyFeedSTL/status/1187533838257401856

Lineup Implications

Tarasenko’s injury leaves an irreplaceable hole atop the Blues lineup. St. Louis already auditioned a handful of wingers for Tarasenko’s spot in the two games since the injury. @Oskar Sundqvist has been the most common replacement. He finished Thursday’s game with @Brayden Schenn and @Jaden Schwartz on the top line, was back on the fourth line Saturday in Boston, and then was reverted back to the top line for Sunday’s clash against the Red Wings. @Robert Thomas started Saturday’s game on line one, while @David Perron has also seen some shifts with Schenn and Schwartz. With Tarasenko out long-term, you can expect St. Louis to continue to experiment as they search for their optimal lineup without him. Be sure to keep a close eye on their lineup page for constant updates.