“I think he’s doing better,” coach Craig Berube said. “We’ll see if he can get on the ice (Sunday). That would be good.”

The Blues have a practice scheduled for Sunday in Winnipeg, and then play the Jets on Monday before beginning their All-Star break and bye week.

Thomas took a puck to the groin area at the 4:38 mark of the second period Thursday in Arizona. He was in the press box at Ball Arena with the other scratches for Saturday’s game against the Avalanche (Nathan Walker and Calle Rosen) and is still walking gingerly.

It’s questionable at best that he’s able to play again before the break.

Without Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich, the Blues were missing two of their top three scorers in a 4-2 loss to the Avalanche. Thomas has 43 points on 12 goals and 31 assists. Buchnevich, on injured reserve following minor ankle surgery, has 38 points on 15 goals and 23 assists.

Jordan Kyrou has a team-high 47 points on 23 goals and 24 assists. That 24th assist came Saturday on a Brayden Schenn power goal, giving Kyrou 100 career assists in the NHL.

In any event, Thomas is the straw that stirs the Blues’ offense. His absence, obviously, is felt any time he’s out.

“Yeah, he’s a real key guy in all situations,” Berube said.

Thomas’ absence forced some lineup tweaking. Schenn took Thomas’ spot on the top line, centering Kyrou and Brandon Saad.

Noel Acciari, who began the season on the fourth line, moved all the way up to the second line Saturday, flanked by wingers Ivan Barbashev and Vladimir Tarasenko.

Meanwhile, Nikita Alexandrov arrived from Springfield in time to center the fourth line. Alexandrov saw limited duty with only 13 shifts and 7:47 of ice time. Schenn picked up much of the slack at center, logging a season-high 23:16 of ice time that represented the third-highest ice time total for any Blues forward this season.

The Blues’ power play has been sagging lately, connecting on only two of 22 opportunities over the prior seven games entering Saturday’s contest. But the return of Torey Krug from the injured reserve list on Jan. 24 against Buffalo has at least perked up the first unit.

“Last game (against Arizona), they had some good looks. They did,” Berube said prior to Saturday’s contest. “It doesn’t always go in, but it’s about getting the looks.

“Krugger to me is doing a good job on the power play. He’s moving the puck quick, getting it into the flankers’ hands and making the right decisions. And he’s always a threat to shoot. ... So for me, he’s done a good job.”

The Blues did more than get good looks Saturday, they got a power play goal when Schenn was at the net front to poke home a rebound of a Krug shot from distance. The assist gave Krug eight over his last seven games.

After missing nine games with a lower-body injury, veteran defenseman Robert Bortuzzo was back in the lineup Saturday, playing on the third pairing with Niko Mikkola. Bortuzzo played only 10:58, but led the team in penalty kill time — at 2:12.

The Blues killed off both Colorado power play and are 19 for 21 over their last 10 games.

“Bortz has always been a good penalty killer,” Berube said. “He’s gonna give you hard minutes. He’s gonna be physical and play a simple game.”

Goalie Jordan Binnington played in his 200th NHL regular-season game on Saturday. Only five other goalies in franchise history have hit the 200 mark: Mike Liut (347), Jake Allen (289), Curtis Joseph (280), Grant Fuhr (249), and Greg Millen (209).