Blues May Need Third-Stringer In Goal For Final Detroit Game

More rough stuff in the crease may leave the St. Louis Blues with a third-string goaltender as the last line of defense in Game 7 of their playoff series against the Detroit Red Wings tonight.

Goalie Jon Casey strained his neck when he was run over - intentionally, Blues general manager-coach Mike Keenan contends - by Darren McCarty with 3 minutes, 20 seconds left in the first period of the Red Wings’ 4-2 victory Tuesday. Casey did not practice Wednesday, as rookie Bruce Racine and minor league callup Mike Buzak manned the nets.

Keenan said he wouldn’t know until today whether Casey would play, but said he might have to play at less than 100 percent given the experience of the backups. Racine has played 33 seconds of one game in the playoffs and Buzak, 23, is a year removed from Michigan State.

“If they need me, I’m ready,” Racine said. “Mike likes to change goalies a lot, so I’ve tried to prepare myself.”

Casey stepped in after Grant Fuhr was knocked out of the playoffs in Game 2 of the first round when Toronto’s Nick Kypreos landed on him and injured his knee.

Keenan was livid after Tuesday’s game, yelling at Dave Newell, the NHL’s supervisor of officiating, in a profanity-filled tirade that could easily be heard outside his office.