Allen returns in net for Blues practice; Ott also back

St. Louis Blues goaltender Jake Allen returned to practice Monday after sitting out the final three games this season with a lower-body injury.

“I’ll be back Game 1, ready to go,” Allen said after practice, adding he had another previous day of skating under his belt. “If my name gets called for whatever reason, I’ll be ready, to go.”

Brian Elliott is slated to be the starter when the NHL playoffs begin Wednesday at Scottrade Center against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Blues forwards David Backes (lower-body injury) and Troy Brouwer did not practice Monday, though Backes has said previously he will be ready for the playoff opener on Wednesday. Brouwer played in all 82 games this season, so it’s likely he will be ready for the playoffs as well.

“There’s nobody on the ice, so we’ll see,” said Hitchcock, who indicted a further update on both players would come Tuesday. “Until a guy practices, it’s pretty hard to put a guy in.”

Blues forward Steve Ott, who has been out while rehabbing from surgery on both hamstrings, recently was dealing with colitis as well. But on Monday, Ott was back skating with the team in practice and taking part in all the drills.

“To be honest with you, my goal all along was to be a healthy piece in the playoffs sometime,” Ott said. “That was the main goal and the main goal is still that.”

Hitchcock took a bit more of a comedic approach when asked about Ott’s status.

“He’s a miraculous recovery, which is really good to see,” Hitchcock said. “A lot of energy, and had a good practice today. He skated hard yesterday and felt really good, so we opted him into the practice. Obviously he’s going to be a player that could maybe sometimes in this series could really, really help us.”

Could the 33-year-old Ott, who payed in only 21 games this season and last played Dec. 5, be ready to play at some point during the playoff series? Hitchcock couldn’t resist having a little fun with the question.

“So you’re saying he’s old and he has no skill?” Hitchcock quipped. “I would say that’s accurate. He has the ability, he could play on our team or play on the alumni team, so either way he fits in perfect.”

This story was originally published April 11, 2016 at 4:23 PM with the headline "Allen returns in net for Blues practice; Ott also back."