Schmaltz brothers to square off in NHL game for first time; Dunn
back skating, assigned to AHL along with two others; Galiardi released
ST. LOUIS -- They faced one another at the Traverse City prospects tournament for the first time, but tonight in Chicago, brothers Jordan and Nick Schmaltz will line up against one another for the first time in an NHL game.
Both played for their respective teams Friday night (Jordan with the Blues against Dallas at home and Nick for the Blackhawks in Pittsburgh), but they will both be in the lineup today when the Blues and Blackhawks resume their preseason schedules at 7:30 p.m. (NHL Network, KMOX 1120-AM).
"That would be cool," Jordan said after scoring a goal in a 4-1 win against the Stars Friday. "I know he (was) playing in Pittsburgh (Friday). Once both lineups are posted, we'll kind of go from there, but yeah, always love playing against him. Maybe give him an extra jab if I am."
Schmaltz, the Blues' first-round draft pick in 2012, played just under 19 minutes Friday and will play in his fourth preseason game as the Blues are giving him a really good look.
"You see the competition ahead of you," Schmaltz said. "Whether you're here or you're in the American (Hockey) League or junior, I think you've just got to keep improving because there are really good players here.
"The more you can just worry about yourself, worry about your game and control yourself, it only makes you better. You can't really worry what's going on around you."
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It's been a frustrating training camp for defenseman Vince Dunn, the Blues' 2015 second-round draft pick.
When he was in St. Louis in July for the prospects' camp, Dunn was looking forward to putting his foot in the door and making an imprint on the start of his NHL career.
But after playing two games at Traverse City, Dunn was injured, sustaining an upper-body injury and wasn't on the ice until Saturday.
Dunn made his first appearance, skating with the group before gameday players departed for Chicago.
"It's hard watching the guys do their thing every day and I'm kind on my own schedule trying to get healthy, but it's the nature of the game and things happen," Dunn said. "Sometimes they don't happen your way and you've just kind of got to battle through it and stay mentally focused and try to do everything you can to get back as fast as possible."
Dunn is destined for Chicago to play with the Wolves of the AHL after spending three seasons with the Niagara IceDogs of the Ontario Hockey League but wanted to make a good impression after having a solid NHL camp in 2015.
"It's really frustrating," Dunn said. "There's nothing I could really do about it. It's the nature of the game and I'm doing everything I can to make the best impression with the time I have here. I'm just trying to do everything 100 percent and try to make impact wherever I am on and off the ice.
"I was hit from behind (in Traverse City) and wasn't really feeling 100 percent. I'm just trying to take my time here and make sure I'm ready for the season to start wherever I am. It's really early in the season and you don't want to take any chances with a big season ahead."
Dunn, defenseman Brad Hunt and forward Conner Bleackley were assigned to the Wolves on Saturday afternoon, and the Blues released forward T.J. Galiardi from his professional tryout, reducing the camp roster down to 44.
Galiardi is the second PTO released this week. Yan Stastny was released from his PTO on Thursday.
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Here is the Blues' lineup for tonight:
Chris Porter-Patrik Berglund-Ty Rattie
Kenny Agostino-Dmitrij Jaskin-Magnus Paajarvi
Eric Nystrom-Kyle Brodziak-Ryan Reaves
Jordan Caron-Ivan Barbashev-Landon Ferraro
Joel Edmundson-Kevin Shattenkirk
Petteri Lindbohm-Jordan Schmaltz
Kevin Tansey-Morgan Ellis
Carter Hutton and Jordan Binnington will be the goalies
Berglund, Rattie, Jaskin, Paajarvi, Barbashev, Lindbohm and Schmaltz all were in the lineup Friday and will be playing in back-to-back preseason games.
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