As I wrote in the Post-Dispatch today, Blues left winger Paul Kariya is in Colorado this week to see if he can get cleared by doctors and possibly return to the lineup.

Blues President John Davidson says that Kariya, who had surgery to repair torn labrums in each hip, underwent testing on one hip yesterday and the other hip today. After the results of those tests are finalized, Kariya will meet with doctors to determine his status.

“The doctors will decide whether Paul is cleared or not,” Davidson said at 4:20 this afternoon. “That could take another day or two. We don’t know when it will be, but hopefully by the weekend.”

There is speculation that if he’s cleared, Kariya could play Friday in Columbus or Sunday in Colorado. Assuming he is cleared, and that’s a big assumption, I can almost assure you he won’t play Friday. As far as Sunday, that is still a possibility.

If the Blues managed to clinch a playoff position Friday night, when they play Columbus and Nashville plays in Minnesota, that would help the chances of Kariya playing Sunday. In effect, the game would be “meaningless” and Kariya could ease his way into the lineup. If the game still “matters,” it’s likely Kariya would take a few days to practice with the team and then give it a go in the playoffs.

“Once he’s ready, it’ll be a coach’s decision . . . this is Andy Murray’s team,” Davidson said. “It would be nice if Paul could skate for two weeks with the team, but we don’t have that luxury. We’ll see how he practices and then it will be Andy’s decision. It’ll be nice, though, to have another asset available to us.”

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Please join Patrick Devine and myself tonight on “The Low Down” on KFNS 590 THE FAN. We’ll be on from 7-9 p.m. tonight. Blues rookie T.J. Oshie will be a guest.

JR