Thomas out 4-6 weeks with broken thumb

Center was injured in loss to Coyotes Saturday

By LOU KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- The news on Robert Thomas is not great for the Blues.

The third-year center, who left in the first period of Saturday's 3-1 loss to the Arizona Coyotes, suffered a broken thumb -- presumably his left one -- and will be sidelined 4-6 weeks, according to coach Craig Berube.

Robert Thomas

Thomas, who scored his first goal of the season in the game, was tripped by Arizona's Nick Schmaltz along the wall in the defensive zone and replays show his left hand slamming the ice on the play. He played 3:01 in the game and did not return after leaving the ice.

"I feel awful for him and we're going to miss him," Berube said of Thomas, who has a goal and five assists in 12 games this season. "He didn't get off to the start (to the season) that he wanted to, but it was a good start yesterday for him and it's unfortunate what happened. It's something he's going to have to deal with and something the team's going to have to deal with."

The Blues, who were already playing a forward short by going with 11 forwards and even defensemen, were down to 10 forwards when Thomas departed and will now move forward for the time being looking to reconfigure what their third line is going to be comprised of.

"It's obviously unfortunate," Blues center Brayden Schenn said. "Gets his first goal last night and you never know what can happen with that gaining confidence and his ability to help our team. Unfortunate for him, unfortunate for us, but he'll obviously be hungry when he gets back and in saying that, there's other guys that need to step up and fill the void and guys will."