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St. Louis Blues: What To Watch For In Second Preseason Game

By Jason Martin

WINNIPEG, MB - JANUARY 21: Robby Fabbri #15 of the St. Louis Blues follows the play down the ice during first period action against the Winnipeg Jets at the MTS Centre on January 21, 2017 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Jets defeated the Blues 5-3. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, MB - JANUARY 21: Robby Fabbri #15 of the St. Louis Blues follows the play down the ice during first period action against the Winnipeg Jets at the MTS Centre on January 21, 2017 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Jets defeated the Blues 5-3. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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The St. Louis Blues will send a fresh group of players to Des Moines, Iowa to take on the Minnesota Wild. Robby Fabbri is expected to play in his first game since reinjuring his ACL back in 2017.

The St. Louis Blues will send a new group of players to play in the team’s second preseason game of the year after dropping the opening game to the Dallas Stars last night.

The game will be played in Des Moines, Iowa which is home to the Iowa Wild which is the AHL affiliate of the Minnesota Wild.

Many of the returning players for the Blues will make the trip to Iowa to take on the Wild including Jaden Schwartz and Brayden Schenn who were two of the Blues top point producers last season.

Goaltender prospect Ville Husso is expected to play the entire game in net for the Blues. This is an important camp for Husso. Jake Allen went down with an injury before camp even started and many believe he could earn the backup goalie role to start the season.

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Husso may be better off starting the season in the AHL in order to get a full workload as a number one goalie in San Antonio.

The young goalie could be ready to take over the backup role if either Johnson gets hurt or if Allen is not healthy enough to start the season.

Robby Fabbri is finally (as I knock on every piece of wood around me) healthy enough to hit the ice without any restrictions. The young forward is coming off of back to back ACL surgeries and has not appeared in a game in over a year and a half.

There are some concerns around players who will not make the trip to Iowa including Vladimir Tarasenko and newly acquired David Perron. Both of these players are being held out due to precautionary reasons but the fact that these two are not playing still needs attention.

Tarasenko is coming off a shoulder injury he sustained during the final game of the season against the Colorado Avalanche. It has been reported that Tarasenko has not suffered any setbacks and has been a full participant at practice. I would expect to see Tarasenko on the ice when the Blues host their first preseason game this weekend.

Perron is a more mysterious absence from the lineup. He suffered an undisclosed injury a few days ago in practice and has not participated since. Like Tarasenko, Perron is being held out of the game tonight due to precautionary reasons.

Next. Pros And Cons From Preseason Game 1 Vs. Dallas. dark

The second preseason game will give Blues fans a glimpse into the future in between the pipes. Giving Husso the entire game should not be overlooked, the Blues are giving him every opportunity to earn NHL playing time this year.

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