If anybody read the Blues Talk Forum today, I wrote that Blues forward Paul Kariya was not on the ice today at practice. As it turns out, Kariya was on the ice early but didn’t stay for the entire practice. The Blues are still hoping he’ll be able to play Friday against Anaheim.

“He was out for all the power-play stuff and came off the ice,” Blues coach Andy Murray said. “He’s improving and will skate again tomorrow I’m sure. That’s the plan right now.”

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The Blues are trying to send David Koci to Peoria, which requires waivers. He was placed on waivers today and the team will know tomorrow afternoon if he’s been claimed. If he isn’t, Koci will head to Peoria.

“I hope he stays,” Murray said. “He’s done what we asked him to do. He’s played physical. We had the opportunity to pick up a player (B.J. Crombeen) that can kill penalties and plays tough, too.”

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Crombeen, who will wear No. 26, was on the ice today. The Blues claimed him off waivers Tuesday from Dallas. In today’s practice, Crombeen skated on a line with Cam Paddock and Cam Janssen.

“I think we had some of what he brings, but he adds grit,” Murray said. “He’s a guy that can kill penalties. A good skater. He’s 6-2, 215 . . . hits the other team’s good players.”

Murray said Dallas waived Crombeen because they wanted to call up a more offensive player and had a number’s issue.

“The last few games, Dallas has been struggling a bit,” Crombeen said. ”I think they were going to make some changes and they were going with some of their veteran guys. I wasn’t getting much ice time, had to go on waivers and was lucky enough to get picked up by St. Louis. I was excited when I found that out. I’m looking forward to it. It’s a good opportunity, a good organization . . . hopefully I can play and help the team. When I was in Dallas, I thought St. Louis was one of the better teams that we played. They were fast, hungry and I think I can try to fit in with that.”

Crombeen is the son of former Blue Mike Crombeen, who scored a huge goal for the franchise on April 14, 1981. Crombeen’s goal in double-overtime of Game 5 in a first-round series against Pittsburgh helped the Blues win 4-3, which was their first playoff series victory in nine seasons. They advanced to play the NY Rangers, but lost in six games to the Rangers.

“I’ve heard about it from reporters when I came here with Dallas. It was an overtime goal in the playoffs. I’ve heard about, but I never got to see it.”

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Although the Blues sent Steve Regier to Peoria on Monday,  the plan is to bring him back for Friday’s game against Anaheim. But now that the Blues have acquired Crombeen, re-calling Regier could depend on the health of Yan Stastny. Stastny missed practice today with a groin injury.

This is what the forward combinations could look like Friday, assuming Kariya plays and Stastny sits out with the injury.

Kariya-Tkachuk-Boyes

Stempniak-Berglund-Perron

Regier-McClement-Backes

Crombeen-Paddock-Janssen

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Tune in to “The Low Down” tonight on KFNS 590 AM between 6-8 p.m. John Davidson will join me and Reed Low on the show, and we’ll have an interview that I taped yesterday with Erik Johnson. He was scheduled to have his knee surgery today.

JR