It's unsurprising news, but the Blues announced today that Vladimir Tarasenko is heading to the IR thanks to the hit from Mark Olver during Wednesday night's 1-0 overtime loss to the Colorado Avalanche. Chris Porter has been recalled from the Peoria Rivermen for the time being. From the Blues' official press release:
ST. LOUIS – St. Louis Blues Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Armstrong announced the club has placed forward Vladimir Tarasenko on injured reserve today. Tarasenko was injured during the third period Wednesday in Colorado. In addition, the club recalled forward Chris Porter from the Blues’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, Peoria Rivermen.
Tarasenko, 21, has appeared in all 17 of the Blues’ games this season posting 12 points including six goals and six assists. The 6’0, 219-pound forward tallied five points in his first two games tying Wayne Babych (1978) for the best start to a rookie career in franchise history. The Yaroslavl, Russia native was drafted by the Blues in the first round (16th overall) of the 2010 Entry Draft.
Porter, 28, has dressed in 12 games posting 10 points including seven goals and three assists for the Rivermen this season. In 2011-12, the 6’1, 206-pound forward appeared in 47 games for the Blues tallying seven points including four goals and three assists. The Thunder Bay, Ontario native was originally signed by the Blues as a free agent on Aug. 21, 2007.
No word on the severity of the injury or what it is, but seeing how Tarasenko got rocked makes me feel like it may very well be a concussion, and timetables are impossible to narrow down with those.