ST. LOUIS – Brandon Montour will not be in the lineup for the Ducks as they try to stop a four-game losing streak Wednesday night when they take on the Western Conference-leading St. Louis Blues at Scottrade Center.

Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said Montour, who’s been a fixture in the defense corps in his second season, suffered a hyperextended elbow in the third period Monday when he was sandwiched by Chicago’s Brent Seabrook and Tommy Wingels in the Blackhawks’ 7-3 win.

Montour leads the Ducks defenders with six goals and 13 points. Francois Beauchemin will draw into the lineup for the second time in six games. Beauchemin last played Friday against Winnipeg, getting his first goal of the season in a 4-1 defeat.

“It looked a lot worse than it actually is,” Carlyle said. “If it was a different time of the year, he might be playing. But it’s not. Now we don’t to risk this and turn into anything long term for us.”

Montour said he didn’t recall ever missing a game due to injury at any level he has played. After going through a long conditioning skate Wednesday morning, the talented defenseman is hoping to practice Thursday and play Friday in Columbus. “Knock on wood,” he said. “Hope it’s the last one.”

John Gibson (7-9-1, 3.03 GAA, .920 SV%) gets back in net after being pulled early in the second period Monday night after giving up four goals on 22 shots. Gibson and Ryan Miller figure to split duty this weekend when the Ducks visit Columbus and then play in Nashville on Saturday night.

The Ducks could have some good news on injury front. Carlyle said forwards Ondrej Kase (head) and Jared Boll (leg) are practicing in San Diego with the team’s American Hockey League affiliate and may join the team this weekend. Kase and Boll will miss their 10th consecutive games.

Once the two return, the Ducks will have to make a roster move. Putting Rickard Rakell (upper body) on injured reserve may be a consideration, and if that occurs, the winger will officially be out through the weekend. At this point, it is unlikely he’ll join the Ducks on a trip that concludes Tuesday in Vegas.

Ryan Getzlaf (cheekbone) has started to skate again in Anaheim, and Ryan Kesler (hip) continues to skate though neither is on the radar. Carlyle is keeping hope either will become available before the Christmas holiday break.

The Ducks can use any help in the middle. Derek Grant, who’s playing unprecedented minutes on the top line, is a minus-8 over the four losses.

Here is the projected lineup for the Ducks:

Nick Ritchie-Derek Grant-Corey Perry

Andrew Cogliano-Chris Wagner-Jakob Silfverberg

Logan Shaw-Antoine Vermette-Kevin Roy

Mike Liambas-Kalle Kossila-Dennis Rasmussen

Hampus Lindholm-Josh Manson

Cam Fowler-Kevin Bieksa

Francois Beauchemin-Sami Vatanen

The Blues (17-6-1) trail only Tampa Bay in terms of points for the league lead and they’re being led by the potent top line of Jaden Schwartz, Brayden Schenn and Vladimir Tarasenko.

Only the Lightning’s Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov and Vladislav Namestnikov have racked up more total points (93) than Schwartz (13 goals, 19 assists), Schenn (10 goals, 20 assists) and Tarasenko (12 goals, 16 assists). The three have accounted for 48 points over the past 10 games.

“You could say Tarasenko drives their hockey club,” Carlyle said. “He’s a pretty dynamic player. Schwartz is another dynamic player. When they have the puck, things happen in a positive sense offensively. For us it’s about us checking and our ability to try and force those players to play in their own zone more.”

But they’re not just about the one threesome. Paul Stastny, Vladimir Sobotka and Alexander Steen have been a productive second line, with Steen getting 12 points in his first 18 games after missing the first six to recover from a hand injury.

St. Louis is steadily getting healthier. Minutes-chewing defenseman Jay Bouwmeester will play in his third game after coming back from a broken ankle. Patrik Berglund will make his season debut Wednesday after being out for three months due to surgery on his left shoulder.

The Blues won’t have forwards Robby Fabbri or Zach Sanford over the long haul. Fabbri tore his ACL for the second time during training camp and is lost for the season. Sanford is out for the first sixth months of this season due to a dislocated left shoulder.

The trade of Kevin Shattenkirk has allowed Blues captain Alex Pietrangelo to tap further into his offensive ability. Pietrangelo is off to the best start of his eight-year career as his seven goals tie Columbus’s Zach Werenski for the NHL lead among defensemen while his 20 points are just one behind Dallas’s John Klingberg.

Jake Allen (13-5-1, 2.75 GAA, .908 SV%) will get the start in goal as the Blues wrap up a five-game homestand. Allen made 22 saves Saturday in a 6-3 win over Minnesota. He’s got a 5-1-0 record and 1.56 goals-against average against the Ducks in seven contests.

The Blues put defenseman Nate Prosser on waivers. Carl Gunnarsson will be scratched for the fourth consecutive game. Magnus Paajarvi and Oskar Sundqvist will also sit out.

Ducks legend Paul Kariya will drop the puck before the game. Kariya played the final three years of his career with the Blues and is being recognized for his recent induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Here is the projected lineup for the Blues:

Jaden Schwartz-Brayden Schenn-Vladimir Tarasenko

Vladimir Sobotka-Paul Stastny-Alexander Steen

Dmitrij Jaskin-Patrik Berglund-Sammy Blais

Scottie Upshall-Kyle Brodziak-Chris Thorburn

Jay Bouwmeester-Alex Pietrangelo

Joel Edmundson-Colton Parayko

Vince Dunn-Robert Bortuzzo