ST. LOUIS – Dylan Holloway He appears to be ready to go, but coach of the St. Louis Blues Drew Bannister said the forward is a game-time decision when the Blues (6-6-0) host Utah Hockey Club (5-5-3) in their third home game of five games at 7 p.m. (FDSNMW, ESPN 101.1-FM).

Holloway found himself in a scary situation Tuesday when he was hit in the neck area by a puck and had to be carried off the ice and taken to the hospital late in the first period of a 3-2 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Holloway rode his bike Wednesday and was on the ice for an optional morning skate.

“I felt good, I felt completely normal,” Holloway said. “Ready to go.

“… I just want to go out there and kind of forget about it, put it in the past. I feel good, I’m just excited to get out there.”

Bannister didn’t want to commit to Holloway playing yet.

“It will be a game-time decision,” Bannister said. “I rode my bike yesterday, was on the ice this morning and pushed myself hard, but we want to see how he responds throughout the day, so we will make a decision at game time.”

Although Holloway considered himself fit and ready to play, he said it’s up to those above him.

“I just left it in their hands,” he said. “When I spoke to the doctor at the hospital he said there was no activity for 24 hours but other than that I’m fine. All my tests were good. There is no further damage, nothing. It was the best news I could have gotten.” . I feel ready to go.

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Former Blues defender Robert Bortuzzowho spent parts of 10 seasons with the Blues (2015-24), is back as a guest player for the first time since being traded to the New York Islanders last season.

Bortuzzo has since signed a one-year, $775,000 contract with Utah and will receive a video tribute during tonight’s game but will not be in the lineup.

“It’s great (to be back in St. Louis),” Bortuzzo said. “It wasn’t that long ago, we spent 10 great years here. Last night I met some friends. It’s very special to come in here. Cool, looking at the (Stanley Cup) banner and everything. Somehow it feels like we really did.” To be honest, I’m excited to be in Utah and excited to continue my career here.

We’ll hear more from the player his teammates called “Bobbo” about his role in the NHL, his time here and what it means to be part of a special moment in Blues history.

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Expected Blues line-up:

Dylan Holloway-Pavel Buchnevich-Jake Neighbors

Brandon Saad-Brayden Schenn-Jordan Kyrou

Alexey Toropchenko-Radek Faksa-Nathan Walker

Alexandre Texier-Oskar Sundqvist-Zack Bolduc

Ryan Suter-Colton Parayko

Pierre Olivier Joseph Justin Faulk

Scott Perunovich-Matthew Kessel

Joel Hofer will start in goal; Jordan Binnington will be the backup.

The Blues have no healthy scratches. Robert Thomas (Ankle), Nick Leddy (lower body), Philip Broberg (Knee), Mathieu Joseph (lower body) and Kasperi Kapanen (Upper body) are all outside.

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Projected lineup for Utah:

Clayton Keller-Logan Cooley-Dylan Guenther

Matias Maccelli-Barrett Hayton-Nick Schmaltz

Alexander Kerfoot-Nick Bjugstad-Lawson Crouse

Jack McBain-Kevin Stenlund-Michael Carcone

Mikhail Sergachev-Michael Kesselring

Ian Cole-Maveric Lamoureux

Olli Maatta-Jusso Valimaki

Connor Ingram will start in goal; Karel Vejmelka will be the replacement.

Healthy scratches include Robert Bortuzzo, Liam O’Brien And Vladislav Kolyachonok. Sean Durzi (upper body) and John Marino (upper body) are outside.