neighbours_projected

Jake Neighbours is set to return to the lineup on Tuesday when the St. Louis Blues host the Detroit Red Wings at 7 p.m. at Enterprise Center (BSMW, 101 ESPN).
Neighbours last played on Feb. 19 in Ottawa. In that game, he sustained an upper-body injury on his first shift and had just 37 seconds of ice time. Neighbours, who was to be re-evaluated in five weeks, missed 13 games with the injury and will need to be activated from injured reserve.
"It felt a lot longer than it was. It's obviously never fun being hurt," Neighbours said. "You want to be in the lineup and play with your teammates and competing. It's kind of the traditional answer, but it's true. I'm just happy to be back."

Neighbours was skating on the fourth line with Logan Brown and Nathan Walker in Tuesday's practice and figures to be there against Detroit.
In addition, Jordan Binnington's suspension is over and he will be the backup for Tuesday's game as Blues Head Coach Craig Berube sticks with the hot hand in Joel Hofer. In two starts in Binnington's absence, Hofer is 2-0-0 with a 1.02 goals-against average and a .970 save percentage.
"For now, we'll play it by ear," Berube said of starting Hofer for a third straight game. "He's in tonight and we'll evaluate after the game tonight."

PROJECTED LINEUP

Forwards
Vrana - Thomas - Kyrou
Toropchenko - Buchnevich - Kapanen
Saad - Schenn - Blais
Neighbours - Brown - Walker
Defense
Leddy - Parayko
Scandella - Faulk
Krug - Bortuzzo
Goalie
Hofer
Binnington