Tarasenko returns to lineup after long recovery by Chris Pinkert / Video by Blue Note Productions Vladimir Tarasenko hasn't played a regular-season game since injuring his shoulder on Oct. 24, 2019 against the Los Angeles Kings, but that will change on Saturday night. Tarasenko, who has had three shoulder surgeries since April 2018, was activated from injured reserve and is cleared for takeoff. "It was a long period without playing hockey, but most important, we needed to get it fixed and get it done and get it healthy again," Tarasenko told stlouisblues.com. "The doctors in Vail, Colorado did a great job, the Blues doctors did a great job, everybody was on the same page. We worked a lot and I'm finally able to play… The three surgeries is in the past, there is some speculation still, but it was a different injury, not the same injury three times. Now it's healthy, I feel strong and ready to come back and can't wait until I step on the ice."