Blues place Pietrangelo on IR

The St. Louis Blues will head into the battle of first-place teams without their top rearguard, as the team placed Alex Pietrangelo on injured reserve Tuesday morning before their evening meeting with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Pietrangelo took a puck off his foot in the first period of St. Louis' win over the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night. He left the contest, but returned to finish the game. However, he then missed the Blues' matchup against the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday.

St. Louis' captain could return as early as this Sunday, but that would still leave the club without its top defenseman for a tough three- to four-game stretch that includes tilts against the Lightning, the Anaheim Ducks, and a weekend back-to-back against the high-flying Winnipeg Jets.

Don't believe this to be too serious, he could be back as early as Sunday at Winnipeg although obviously depends how he feels then.... but sounds like just a week or so... https://t.co/Scf6HdyGS0

- Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) December 12, 2017

Through 30 games for the Blues this season, Pietrangelo is having one of the best seasons of his career, logging over 25 minutes a night to go along with seven goals and 16 assists.

In a corresponding roster move, St. Louis recalled defenseman Jordan Schmaltz from their AHL affiliate in San Antonio.

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