Alex Pietrangelo returned to action on Tuesday March 19.

Alex Pietrangelo (flu) is in Vancouver with the Blues and could return to the lineup Tuesday night according to beat writer Jeremy Rutherford. Pietrangelo missed Saturday's game with the illness but appears ready to return to the lineup. He has five goals and 18 points this season and should be started in all leagues when healthy. Check back before the drop of the puck for official confirmation.

Alex Pietrangelo will play in his 200th career NHL game on Thursday. Pietrangelo has four goals and 14 points in 22 games this season. He's quickly developed into one of the league's top defenseman and should remain at this level for many years to come.

Alex Pietrangelo and the Blues were shut out by Chicago by a 3-0 score Thursday night. Pietrangelo led the Blues with four shots on goal in the defeat, but the talented blueliner has now been held without a point in six straight contests. The Blues are struggling with offensive keys Alexander Steen, Andy McDonald and Vladimir Tarasenko all nursing injuries, but the team is too good not to bounce back quickly.

Alex Pietrangelo had the lone goal for St. Louis in a 5-1 defeat at the hands of Detroit on Thursday. The offensive defender scored his third of the season a Blues power play from Alex Steen and Kevin Shattenkirk. Pietrangelo has 10 points in 10 games in 2013.

Alex Pietrangelo was the only member of the Blues to score a goal in a 6-1 loss to Nashville Tuesday. Pietrangelo's power play marker came after the outcome had been determined, as it cut the Predators lead to 5-1. Tonight's game notwithstanding, the Blues are an excellent team and Pietrangelo is a driving force behind their success.

Alex Pietrangelo registered an assist on Thursday. That puts Pietrangelo in a five-way tie for first among defensemen with eight points. Pietrangelo had 51 points in 81 games last season and should be regarded as one of the most valuable defensemen this season.

Alex Pietrangelo and the St. Louis Blues held "informal" contract talks over the summer, but the team decided to hold off until a new CBA was completed. "At that time, [Blues GM] Doug [Armstrong] indicated that as long as we knew their intention was to re-sign him that the organization felt comfortable in waiting until we had a new CBA," said Pietrangelo's agent Don Meehan. "We in turn responded by saying that Alex was very happy in St. Louis, had been well-treated by the organization and from his perspective wanted to remain with St. Louis for a long time and be a part of their future." Contracts could have a different look in the NHL post-lockout and Pietrangelo, who has one year left on his current deal, is willing to wait until the situation is clearer before he gets his extension.

Alex Pietrangelo will undergo minor surgery for a lower-body injury, but he is expected to be fine for the scheduled start of training camp on Sept. 21. The procedure is projected to happen "very soon," but an exact date was not given. He sustained a sprained knee in the playoffs following a hit from Los Angeles' Dwight King, but it's unclear if that ailment is related because it was revealed in May that surgery would not be required. Pietrangelo has developed into an outstanding offensive defenseman the past two years. He scored 43 points in 2010-11 and followed that up with 51 points last season.

The St. Louis Blues will enter the off-season on the hunt for a veteran defenseman to possibly pair with Alex Pietrangelo. "We want to find a top-four defenseman," Blues GM Doug Armstrong said. "If we could add one player that we feel really comfortable about being in the four, then we really feel good about our group." Armstrong said that the team has no issue switching Pietrangelo to the left side to play alongside Kevin Shattenkirk.