Blues' Jackman returns, Steen doubtful for weekend

ST. LOUIS -- Two days appears to be enough down time for St. Louis Blues defenseman Barret Jackman.

After sitting out a 2-1 victory Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres with a lower-body injury, Jackman will come back into the lineup Saturday for the Blues (52-17-7) against the Colorado Avalanche (49-21-6).

Jackman was among those to skate Friday in an optional practice and deemed himself fit.

"Other guys got in the lineup and we're rested and ready to go [Saturday]," Jackman said. "Two days off. It felt good so we're ready to go [Saturday]. … Every game's a grind from here on out. I got two days' rest, which is only going to be beneficial down the stretch."

However, Blues coach Ken Hitchcock ruled out Alexander Steen (upper-body injury) for Saturday and ruled him doubtful for Sunday against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Steen, who also missed the win against the Sabres, leads the Blues with 33 goals and is tied with forward T.J. Oshie for the team points lead with 60 in 64 games.

"Jackman's in, he'll play. He skated today," Hitchcock said. "He'll play [Saturday] and Steen is not going to play on Saturday and probably doubtful for the weekend but we'll see."

Also, Ryan Miller will start in goal and no decision has been made regarding who gets the goal Sunday against the Blackhawks.

"All we're focused on is Saturday," Hitchcock said. "(Miller's) playing Saturday and we haven't made a decision for Sunday yet."

With Jackman coming back in, defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo will sit out against the Avalanche but will get back in Sunday at Chicago. The Blues want defenseman Jordan Leopold to play against his former team Saturday to keep him going after missing two months with a high ankle sprain.

The Avalanche, who would earn the franchise's second 50-win season with a victory today (the 2000-01 team won a franchise-best 52), will be without forward Cody McLeod (ankle). He joins center Matt Duchene (knee) as players who suffered recent injuries.

The projected lineups for the Avalanche and Blues:

AVALANCHE

Gabriel Landeskog - Paul Stastny - Nathan MacKinnon

Ryan O'Reilly - John Mitchell - Jamie McGinn

Marc-Andre Cliche - Maxime Talbot - Patrick Bordeleau

Ryan Wilson - Paul Carey - Brad Malone

Jan Hejda - Erik Johnson

Andre Benoit - Cory Sarich

Nick Holden - Tyson Barrie

Semyon Varlamov

Jean-Sebastien Giguere

Scratched: Reto Berra, Nate Guenin

Injured: Matt Duchene (knee), PA Parenteau (knee), Alex Tanguay (hip), Cody McLeod (ankle)

BLUES

Chris Porter - David Backes - T.J. Oshie

Brenden Morrow - Vladimir Sobotka - Jaden Schwartz

Steve Ott - Patrik Berglund - Magnus Paajarvi

Dmitrij Jaskin - Maxim Lapierre - Ryan Reaves

Jay Bouwmeester - Alex Pietrangelo

Barret Jackman - Roman Polak

Jordan Leopold - Kevin Shattenkirk

Ryan Miller

Brian Elliott

Scratched: Ian Cole, Carlo Colaiacovo, Derek Roy

Injured: Alexander Steen (upper body), Vladimir Tarasenko (thumb)