ST. LOUIS - Already without several key players due to injury, the Blues lost another one when forward Jaden Schwartz went down at Friday’s practice.

Several seconds after beginning a practice drill, Schwartz slipped awkwardly and collided with a goal post. He was helped off the ice by Assistant Coach Kirk Muller and Head Athletic Trainer Ray Barile.

“(It was a) pretty innocent thing,” Blues Head Coach Ken Hitchcock said after practice. “Obviously he couldn’t finish practice, so that’s the first alarm bell that goes off. We sent him to the hospital to get a further evaluation and we’ll give you an exact update on time frame tomorrow.”

“He shot the puck and then the puck bounced off,” said Brian Elliott, who saw the incident. “He went to reach back for the rebound, kind of lost his edge and kind of came back into me and into the mesh of the net…hopefully he’s alright.”

Schwartz has four assists in seven games this season. In his absence, the Blues have recalled forward Ty Rattie from the AHL. Rattie has scored four goals and three assists in three games this season with the Chicago Wolves.

“He’s a guy that’s obviously been lighting it up in the American League, champing at the bit and was close to making the team,” Hitchcock said. “Knowing him, I think he’s really going to take advantage of this. He’s on that cusp of being an NHL player, and I don’t think he’s going to miss the opportunity to come up and play right now.”

The Blues were already missing Paul Stastny (lower-body), Robby Fabbri (concussion), Patrik Berglund (shoulder) and Kevin Shattenkirk (lower-body) due to injury. Hitchcock said Fabbri and Shattenkirk won’t play Saturday, but could return to the lineup on Tuesday vs. Tampa Bay.

An update on Schwartz’s condition will be posted on Saturday.