BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Forward Kasperi Kapanen will draw back into the Blues lineup on Thursday night against the Sabres, replacing Alexandre Texier on the fourth line.
It was Kapanen's second game back in the lineup after missing more than a week due to an upper-body injury suffered Oct. 29 in Ottawa. Kapanen played in Saturday's game against Washington before he was a healthy scratch on Tuesday vs. Boston.
Kapanen is expected to play on a line with Mathieu Joseph and Oskar Sundqvist.
For Texier, it will be the second time this season as a healthy scratch. The Blues acquired him over the summer from Columbus for a fourth-round pick and signed him to a two-year extension worth $2.1 million a year.
Brandon Saad will return to the second line with Brayden Schenn and Dylan Holloway after previously skating on the fourth line and playing less than nine minutes on Tuesday.
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Jordan Binnington will start in goal for the Blues.
Former Blues forward Tage Thompson will not play for Buffalo due to a lower-body injury.
Projected Blues lineup at Buffalo on Thursday, 6:30 p.m.
Jake Neighbours - Pavel Buchnevich - Jordan Kyrou
Brandon Saad - Brayden Schenn - Dylan Holloway
Alexey Toropchenko - Radek Faksa - Nathan Walker
Mathieu Joseph - Oskar Sundqvist - Kasperi Kapanen
Ryan Suter - Colton Parayko
Pierre-Olivier Joseph - Justin Faulk
Scott Perunovich - Matthew Kessel
Jordan Binnington
Joel Hofer
Scratches: Alexandre Texier, Zack Bolduc, Leo Loof.
Injured reserve: Nick Leddy (lower-body), Robert Thomas (fractured ankle), Philip Broberg (lower-body), Torey Krug (ankle surgery).
The ºüÀêÊÓƵ Blues, who play at Buffalo on Thursday, have struggled in numerous games of late, especially due to a lack of scoring and intensity.Â
Thomas, three weeks into a six-week timeline until reevaluation for a fractured ankle, skated for the first time with the Blues, who are on a three-game losing streak.
Loof practiced with the Blues in Maryland Heights on Wednesday morning as the seventh defenseman.
