Dillon Dube Doubtful For St. Louis Blues On Saturday

ST. LOUIS -- Dillon Dube missed practice on Friday and is doubtful to play for the St. Louis Blues on Saturday against the Columbus Blue Jackets with a neck injury.

The forward, who scored a shorthanded goal early in the third period of a 3-2 overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks on Thursday, went into the boards head-first after getting bumped by Will Smith early in the first period of a 3-2 overtime loss.

"We're just being precautionary, MRIs on his neck," Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. "He went into the boards there awkwardly in the first minute of the game, I think it was. Obviously a tough kid that played really well for us in the minutes that he played. Scored a big goal that should have been the game-winning goal for us. We haven't gotten the results back yet.

"I'd say doubtful (for tomorrow), but I can't rule him out. He's got a lot of Western Canadian in him. He's going to rub a little dirt on the neck and he'll be fine."

Dube played in his third straight game and recorded his first goal in the NHL since Nov. 16, 2023, and should he miss Saturday, look for Zach Dean to move into his spot and play on the fourth line alongside Pius Suter and Ross Johnston.

What does Montgomery need to see?

"Tenacity, speed, physicality, relentlessness on pucks and starting to develop habits of our structure, where to stop, where to go, routes to be run," Montgomery said. "It's really early for him and we're trying to get him as many reps as we can so he can use his God-given speed to his advantage."

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