Blues coach Hitchcock on 4-day gap: 'It feels like we weren't even in the league'

The St. Louis Blues are back in action against the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday, much to the relief of coach Ken Hitchcock.

The contest will be St. Louis' third of the season as the team hasn't played since last Saturday. Four days off so early in the season was jarring for Hitchcock, who is eager to rejoin the action.

"It feels like we weren’t even in the league," Hitchcock said Thursday. "Like we were watching on television, and now we get to join it."

The Blues will play three road games by Sunday before returning home for a three-day break. That lopsided schedule is the reason St. Louis has just nine games in October - and also why they're playing a heavy 15-game schedule in November.