ST. LOUIS — The best-case scenario would have been for Philip Broberg to be cleared to play Tuesday night, but considering how much pain the St. Louis Blues defenseman appeared to be in during Saturday’s win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, the official diagnosis was positive.
Broberg will be out four to six weeks with a lower-body injury, the team announced Monday, but did not suffer a torn knee ligament, which was feared after seeing replays of the Leafs’ Mitch Marner falling on his right leg. That likely would have ended his season.
“For us, it’s good news when you looked at what happened,” Blues coach Drew Bannister said Monday.
Broberg was helped off the ice and wasn’t putting weight on his right leg when he went to the locker room.
Justin Faulk, Broberg’s defensive partner, was on the ice at the time of the incident but didn’t see what happened on the play.
“I just saw he went down the boards, and the next thing I know, he was down,” Faulk said. “It didn’t look good — his reaction to it — that’s for sure. Then he was in a lot of pain after the game. It didn’t look very good.”
So the Blues will be without Broberg beginning Tuesday against Tampa Bay Lightning at Enterprise Center but expect him back before the end of the calendar year.
In Monday’s practice, like Saturday’s game when Broberg left in the second period, the club will pair Faulk with P.O. Joseph in the top four. Joseph played a season-high 15:18 against the Leafs and had an even plus-minus rating.
“We really like (Joseph’s) range, his stick and his ability to skate,” Bannister said. “I think when you’re in those (top-four) positions, you have to be able to defend. You’re going to see some tough matchups. Certainly when he went up to that position (Saturday), we thought he played extremely well.
“I don’t think we’re talking about a young player anymore. He’s been around. He’s played on a few different teams in different situations with different players. When he’s been bumped up, he seems to settle in really quick. I’m sure he’ll settle in quickly.”
J0seph, 25, spent four seasons previously with the Pittsburgh Penguins. From 2022 to 2024, he played in the Pens’ top four on occasion with veteran Kris Letang. In 547 minutes together at five-on-five, they were on the ice for 24 goals for and 26 against, and they had an expected goal share of 44.5 percent.
“You more minutes and you’re playing against different players,” Joseph said. “But it’s the same hockey that you’ve been playing since you’re a kid. Yes, it’s a little bit more responsibilities. But at that same time, it’s challenging. It’s fun. It’s why we do what we do. I’m just excited for the opportunity here.”
Faulk has liked what he’s seen from Joseph.
“He’s a long body and skates well,” Faulk said. “He takes up a lot of space, and I think that’s when he’s at his best. He’s influencing the game at that point. I know we’ve had some shifts together here, and I think we skated together for a few days in training camp. So I think we’ll be able to figure it out pretty quick. I know he’s hungry for it, and I’m excited for it.”
Meanwhile, Scott Perunovich, will jump back into the Blues’ lineup and play alongside Matthew Kessel. Perunovich has played in just three of the team’s 12 games this season and is a minus-3.
“Now Perun is able to step in and get an opportunity, and we’re going to have to lean on these guys to play some good hockey for us,” Bannister said. “At the end of the day, it’s going to be up to them to find their games and play to what we know their potential is, and we’re going to need them in these situations. I’m excited to see them play.”
But on Monday, the Blues were equally excited to know that Broberg won’t be out too long and won’t be dealing with the ramifications of surgery and an extended rehab.
“Now it’s just, ‘Let’s get him back on the ice and back to game speed,’” Bannister said. “That’s going to take a little bit of time, but the player himself is really happy. It’s still four to six weeks. We’re disappointed in that. But it could have been a lot worse.”
(Photo: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)
