from Tom Timmermann of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch,

Paul Stastny was greeted by a throng of reporters in front of his stall in the Blues dressing room at the Pepsi Center on Saturday, the next step in his Colorado homecoming.

While it's the second time the Blues have played Colorado this season, it's the first time Stastny has faced them. He missed the first meeting with a shoulder injury.

Blues coach Ken Hitchcock has seen similar situations before and knows it's not going to be an easy day for the center.

"I think it's really uncomfortable for players," Hitchcock said. "I think you have a very difficult time. You need the first one in the books. It's unfortunate the first time, he was hurt. That could have made this one easier. I think he just has to go through it and be better for it when we finish the game and get on the bus and get back to St. Louis. I think it's a very difficult challenge for somebody who was an impact player on a good hockey club. I think it's going to be really difficult for him."

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