ST. LOUIS — St. Louis Blues middle Robert Thomas returned to the lineup Tuesday evening, taking part in 24 shifts and 23:07 of his crew’s 4-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild after lacking 12 video games due to a fractured proper ankle.
“It is clearly irritating being out,” Thomas, 25, stated earlier than the loss. “I invested so much in myself, and I am fairly pleased with the outcome and getting again so quickly. I am excited to be again within the lineup and stay up for getting within the trenches with the fellows.”
Thomas fractured an ankle blocking a shot towards the Winnipeg Jets on Oct. 22.
The Blues initially reported that Thomas would miss a minimum of six weeks on the time of his harm. Thomas accompanied the crew on its current three-game street journey after skating with the crew on Nov. 13.
“I began to really feel higher the final couple of days skating,” Thomas stated. “It received to a degree the place I used to be snug that I used to be able to go. Just about the final week or so, I wasn’t planning on the street journey however I needed to be across the guys and take it daily.”
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Blues coach Drew Bannister stated Thomas put within the work to get again within the lineup.
“It would not appear like he is missed a beat. He is in nice form,” Bannister stated. “He went away for every week, 10 days, two weeks to do some work in Toronto along with his medical doctors there, and I believe that actually sped up the method.”
Thomas had one purpose and 6 factors in seven video games previous to getting damage. He added an help in Tuesday’s loss for a crew that went 4-7-1 in 12 video games with out the 2023-24 NHL All-Star.
“Being the man that you already know you could be, that is just about it,” Thomas stated about his expectations upon returning to the lineup. “You possibly can’t get too sophisticated, too fancy early. You have to get again into the rhythm of the sport. It is powerful being out for therefore lengthy. At present was my first actual apply with the fellows, so it is going to take a little bit bit. Conserving it easy early will likely be essential.”
The Related Press contributed to this report.
