The St. Louis Blues have activated forward Jake Neighbours from injured reserve ahead of their game against the Philadelphia Flyers on Nov. 20. Neighbours missed 12 games due to a right-leg injury and returns slightly ahead of schedule. The team also designated forward Alexandre Texier as non-roster.
St. Louis Blues President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Doug Armstrong announced the activation of forward Jake Neighbours from injured reserve. The Calgary, Alberta, native suffered a right-leg injury against the Detroit Red Wings on Oct. 25 and has been sidelined for the past 12 games. In eight games this season before the injury, Neighbours recorded seven points with six goals and one assist, along with four penalty minutes. Over his career with the Blues, he has appeared in 219 regular-season games, totaling 103 points (62 goals, 41 assists) and 107 penalty minutes.
In a related move, the Blues designated forward Alexandre Texier as non-roster. The St. Martin D’heres, France, native has one assist and two penalty minutes in eight games this season. Across 240 career NHL regular-season games, Texier has 91 points (40 goals, 51 assists) and 94 penalty minutes.
The activation provides a boost for the Blues' lineup in their road game against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday, Nov. 20, at 6 p.m. CT on FanDuel Sports Network and 101 ESPN. Blues Head Coach Jim Montgomery noted Neighbours' early return: "The earliest we thought (he'd be back) was against the Islanders on Saturday. It could have been as [long] as the last game of the road trip."
Montgomery added, "It's good news. He was our leading goal scorer when he left the lineup. The character, how hard he is, all that stuff really matters. The little things make up real success in the locker room, on the bench and on the ice."
Neighbours will rejoin a line with Robert Thomas, while Mathieu Joseph is out. Joel Hofer is projected to start in goal.
Projected Lineup
Forwards:
- Jake Neighbours - Robert Thomas - Jimmy Snuggerud
- Brayden Schenn - Dalibor Dvorsky - Pavel Buchnevich
- Dylan Holloway - Pius Suter - Jordan Kyrou
- Alexey Toropchenko - Oskar Sundqvist - Nathan Walker
Defense:
- Philip Broberg - Colton Parayko
- Cam Fowler - Justin Faulk
- Tyler Tucker - Matthew Kessel
Goalie:
- Joel Hofer