hockeyfanland.com

The St. Louis Blues could have Alex Pietrangelo (lower-body) back in the lineup for Thursday's Game 3 against the Los Angeles Kings. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports the defenseman himself will decide if he's able to go.

"He feels OK," Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said after Pietrangelo took part in full practice Wednesday. "If he feels OK (Thursday), and wants to give it a go, we'll let him go. But it's nice to see him out there."

"He lasted the whole practice," Hitchcock added. "It was a hard practice. He participated in everything, so we'll see."

Down two games to none in the second round, the Blues could certainly use their top defenseman back in action. The former first-round, fourth overall pick, from the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, Pietrangelo showed the hockey world he has the ability to be among the elite offensive-minded defenseman in the National Hockey League, finishing fifth best at his position with 51 points in the 2011-12 season.

In order for the St. Louis Blues to have any chance of making a series Alex Pietrangelo most compete at a high level as soon as possible.