Blues' Nail Yakupov: Practices on third line Friday

Yakupov skated with the Blues' third line during Friday's practice session, replacing Jori Lehtera, Tom Timmerman of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Analysis:

St. Louis coach Ken Hitchcock has not been pleased with Lehtera's production this season. The third-year center was dropped to the third line in Thursday's win and then skated as an extra fourth-liner Friday. Other than an initial burst at the start of the season, Yakupov has been a disappointment for the Blues, registering just one point in his last 10 games (9:26 average time on ice). Even if Lehtera is scratched in favor of Yakupov, this could be a one-game scratch, designed to send a message to Lehtera.