DETROIT • The Blues have started the same defensive group in nine of their last 10 games, but there could be a different look Friday when the club hosts Nashville.
Kris Russell, who has played in 21 consecutive games after joining the Blues in a trade from Columbus, suffered a lower-body injury in the first period of Tuesday's game in Detroit. He had only four shifts in the period and did not return.
The club won't be certain how serious the injury is until Russell is evaluated today.
The Blues are carrying seven defensemen on the roster, including Ian Cole, who has been a healthy scratch in nine of the last 10 games.
Recently, Blues coach Ken Hitchcock expressed a desire to get Cole into the lineup.
If Russell's injury is significant, on Friday Cole could have his first action since Dec. 8.
"He needs to start playing," Hitchcock said before Russell's injury. "I think we're at that stage right now where we've got to look at that. He was playing good and you don't want to get him too far away from the competition. You can only do so many good things at practice and you've got to start playing.''
CROMBEEN RETURNS
Blues forward B.J. Crombeen was activated from the injured-reserve list and made his season debut Tuesday night, a couple of weeks earlier than expected. He suffered a broken shoulder in the final game of the preseason.
"Coming back, the legs and the speed of the game was an adjustment," said Crombeen, who played 6 minutes, 45 seconds Tuesday and did not figure in the scoring. "It took a little while to get into it, but the shoulder was fine. It felt good doing everything."
WORLD JUNIORS
Blues forward prospect Jaden Schwartz will be back on the ice today when Canada faces the Czech Republic in the preliminary round of the World Junior Championships, in Edmonton, Alberta.
Schwartz, whom the Blues selected No. 14 overall in the 2010 NHL draft, had two assists in Canada's 8-1 win over Finland on Monday.
Today, the U.S. will face Finland in its second game, following an 11-3 victory over Denmark on Monday.
The tournament is being held in Calgary and Edmonton.
BLUENOTES
Forward Jamie Langenbrunner missed his second consecutive game Tuesday because of the flu. ... Forward Ryan Reaves was placed on the injured list with a hip injury.
