October 12, 2008

Stempniak Out with Knee Ailment

The following article featuring former Dartmouth standout Lee Stempniak appeared in the October 12 issue of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

 

By Jeremy Rutherford
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — The Blues were forced to break up their most productive line of the young season Saturday because of an injury to left winger Lee Stempniak.

Stempniak tweaked his left knee during the first period of Friday's 5-2 win over Nashville and is listed as day to day. In his absence Saturday against the New York Islanders, the Blues kept Andy McDonald and Brad Boyes together, but Paul Kariya was inserted at left wing in Stempniak's spot.

The Blues aren't sure if Stempniak will be available for Monday's game in Toronto. His knee remained stiff Saturday, a day after running into a Nashville player awkwardly.

"I was getting the puck and just sort of got hit," Stempniak said. "Just a fluky thing. It wasn't a hard hit, just a vulnerable position."

Stempniak left the game briefly, but returned to play 20 shifts and finished with 15 minutes, 55 seconds of ice time.

"I came back and played and felt fine," Stempniak said. "It just got a little more stiff. Hopefully it's getting better now. I'd love to play in Toronto and I'm hoping to play on Thursday" against Dallas.

Stempniak, McDonald and Boyes accounted for five points Friday against the Predators.