Jeremy Rutherford:

I just left practice and I'm back at the hotel, ready to chat. With the Lee Stempniak trade this week, I'm sure there's a lot to talk about. For those that didn't see my post on Blues Talk, Carlo Colaiacovo and Alex Steen will be in the lineup tonight. The Blues have said since Monday that their immigration paperwork couldn't be done by tonight, but that has changed. They will be in the lineup against Colorado tonight.

rob in creve heights: were the blues aware that colaiacovo and steen were going to need 4 days to get their paperwork in order? if so, why would the blues hamstring themselves knowing they had back to back games this week (nashville and colorado)? if kariya and oshie and berglund and hinote and mcdonald and on and on were healthy, it wouldn't be that big of a deal. but with us rolling the rivermen out there, and stempniak being on a relative hot streak, it just seems like we are putting ourselves behind the eight ball for the next two games. for all i know the rivermen are going to go out and grab four points, but i don't think the blues are giving themselves the best opportunity to win games this week.

Jeremy Rutherford: I agree that if the Blues knew they couldn't get Steen in Colaiacovo in the lineup for two games, they really did hamstring themselves.

However, the Blues had a little luck because they won last night without the players, and as I wrote up above, they will be in the lineup tonight.

matt: Is John Davidson a mouth piece for Checketts?

Jeremy Rutherford: John Davidson is supposed to be a mouth piece for Dave Checketts. JD is the president of the Blues and the face of the team. I don't understand your point.

Andrew Sampson: Hi Jeremy

As of this chat, is there any word that Alex & Carlo are rocky mountain bound?

While I'm pleased as punch to see the results the fill ins have been producing, some will have to go once the injured forwards return. Who do you think has a shot a staying with the team once that starts to happen?

Jeremy Rutherford: Colaiacovo and Steen are "Headed for the Mountains."

Chris Porter has been sent back to Peoria . . . so it looks like Cam Paddock, Steve Regier and Brad Winchester are safe for now. When Kariya and Berglund come back (probably another a week), then Regier and Winchester will probably be sent back. Paddock could stay until Dan Hinote (ankle) is healthy again.

The Blues will send a defenseman to Peoria following tonight's game. It will be either Steve Wagner or Mike Weaver.

Mike: Hi JR,

Wow, what a game last night huh. Mason was awesome. That said, the Blues were severely outplayed. They really need to get healthy. So, two unrelated questions for you. First, With Mason playing good, do you see AM playing Legace and Mason as a 1A and 1B kind of goaltending platoon? Second, what is the health status of all injured Blues (timetable for their return, if possible)?

Thanks for answering my questions and have a good Thanksgiving.

Cheers,

Mike

Jeremy Rutherford: Mason has really gained everyone's confidence with his last two games. If I can add correctly, he's stopped 77 of 78 shots in a 2-1 win over Minnesota and 1-0 over Nashville. I still think Legace will get more starts, but the Blues schedule will start to pick up soon and Mason will be in net a lot . . . especially if he continues to play like last night.

I know in talking to Andy Murray this morning that he was planning to light into the team a little in the morning meeting. He wasn't happy with the way they played in front of Mason last night. The Blues had only 17 shots. They almost had as many shots in the shootout (2) than they had in the third period (3).

These are guestimates . . .

Berglund: another week
Kariya: another week
Oshie: 2-3 weeks
McDonald: 7 weeks