PANTHERS (11-11-6) at BLUES (10-14-4) 8 p.m. ET; FS-MW, FS-F, NHL.TV
Schwartz missed the past 11 games with a broken finger sustained when he was struck by a Vladimir Tarasenko shot during a 4-1 win at the Vegas Golden Knights on Nov. 16. The Blues, 3-7-1 their past 11 games, will be without defenseman Joel Edmundson, who sustained an upper-body injury late in the third period of a 6-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday. Edmundson was hit by the stick of Canucks forward Brock Boeser, who was taking a wrist shot. The Panthers are 3-4-3 in their past 10 games and have allowed at least five goals in three of their past four games.
Players to watch
Panthers forward Jonathan Huberdeau has 17 points (four goals, 13 assists) in his past eight games. Schwartz has nine points (four goals, five assists) in eight games against Florida.
They said it
"You have to match the urgency and the compete. We're on the road now and we've just got to be a good road team." -- Panthers coach Bob Boughner "It feels good, so obviously really excited to get back in tonight. I'm pretty anxious. I've had the butterflies leading up to this point. Kind of makes you sick to your stomach when you find out you can't play." -- Blues forward Jaden Schwartz
Bjugstad did not make the two-game trip for the Panthers, who did not hold a morning skate. … With Edmundson out, Schmaltz will play for the second time in six games. ... The Blues lost goaltender Chad Johnson, who was claimed off waivers by the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday.
Stat pack
Huberdeau needs two assists for 200 in the NHL. ... Barkov has nine points (four goals, five assists) in his past seven games. … Dadonov has nine points (four goals, five assists) in his past eight games. ... Allen is 2-1-1 with a 2.10 goals-against average and one shutout in his past four starts. … Butler will play in his 400th NHL game.
