BOSTON -- Blues defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph flew back to St. Louis for further evaluation of his lower-body injury and is considered day to day, coach Drew Bannister said before Saturday afternoon's game against the Bruins.
Bannister said the Blues already have the test results, and "it went well." Asked whether Joseph could play Tuesday against Minnesota, Bannister said "we'll see when we get home."
Joseph was hurt early in the second period on Thursday night in Buffalo after an awkward collision with teammate Justin Faulk and Sabres forward Zach Benson. Joseph was helped off the ice, putting minimal weight on his left leg.
Joseph was elevated in the lineup alongside Faulk because of injuries to Nick Leddy (lower-body), Philip Broberg (lower-body) and Torey Krug (out for the season, ankle surgery). Thursday was his fifth game playing top-four minutes.
With Joseph out of the lineup on Saturday, the newly-recalled Corey Schueneman drew into the lineup on the back end. The Blues recalled Schueneman from AHL affiliate Springfield on Friday morning, as St. Louis sent Leo Loof back to the AHL.
Why the switch of Schueneman for Loof?
"We wanted to get more of a veteran guy in, I think," Bannister said. "Schueny has played a lot down there. He's played a lot of good American League games. He's had an opportunity to play in the NHL when he was with Montreal. So we wanted to get a guy in here to give him the opportunity. But he's played well. He had a great camp for us, get Loofer back playing games in the American League. Looking forward to seeing Schueny here today."
Schueneman, 29, played 31 games in the NHL for Montreal across 2021-23. He spent all of last year with Colorado in the AHL, and had five points in 13 games this season with Springfield.
Bannister said defenseman Scott Perunovich was fine. Perunovich blocked a shot with about 8 1/2 minutes left in Thursday's game and only played one more shift after that. The Blues had two defensemen over 30 minutes in ice time, as Ryan Suter played 33:06 and Colton Parayko was at 30:37.
It was the 22nd time in Suter's career that he logged more than 33 minutes, but the first time since March 15, 2016 with Minnesota. According to NHL Edge data, Suter skated 4.68 miles on Thursday, which was tied for the most in the league this season.
After Thursday night's game in Buffalo, Pavel Buchnevich emphasized the importance of generating speed through the neutral zone for his own personal game. He scored a goal against the Sabres on the rush.
"Huge, huge," Buchnevich said of neutral-zone spped. "You see how I struggle offensively. I have to figure out how to find my game. I have to find how I can find the puck through the neutral zone and enter the zone with the puck. I should say last two games, I've been improved. At least I start creating some chances. It's a good sign."
Buchnevich's goal against the Sabres was his first at 5 on 5 since Oct. 11 in Vegas. He had an empty-net goal Nov. 2 against Toronto, and entered Saturday with five goals and six assists in 17 games, mostly at center.
"I thought our counters as a team was much better," Bannister said. "I thought we had more speed through the neutral zone. I thought as a group, we were much better at that. ... Getting out of the defensive zone quick to be able to create space for yourself and get up ice. You've got to move your feet. You've got to play fast."
Brandon Saad's two goal on Thursday against Buffalo were the highlights of his game vs. the Sabres, but Bannister liked his game overall in the overtime loss.
"I just thought he was really competitive, was heavy on pucks," Bannister said. "He used his speed. Even you take away the two goals, I thought he played a heck of a game for us."
During Saad's 16:40 of ice time at 5 on 5, the Blues outshot the Sabres 10-8 and outscored them 2-0.
"Anytime you're scoring goals and playing with the puck, it creates confidence," Saad said. "I think as a line, we did a good job of being heavy on it and protecting it, playing with it. I think we can keep building on that."
Saturday was Saad's second game in the top-six after playing fourth-line minutes on Tuesday.
"Just coming ready to play," Saad said. "It's my job to put the next game up and focus on the next game and leave the past in the past. It was a good response, but obviously, we want to get the win."
* Zack Bolduc returned to the Blues lineup in Boston in place of Kasperi Kapanen.