The free-falling Blues will be without defenseman Jay Bouwmeester for the rest of the season with a left hip injury.

On Monday, Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said Bouwmeester, 34, will be sidelined four to six months and forward Scottie Upshall will be re-evaluated in four weeks after suffering a knee injury.

The Blues have lost eight of 10 games to fall out of the top three in the Central Division and out of a playoff position in the Western Conference.

Bouwmeester has two goals and five assists in 35 games this season. Upshall, 34, injured a knee Saturday against the Stars. He has seven goals and 11 assists in 61 games.

Max Pacioretty is expected to miss 4-6 weeks because of a knee injury the Canadiens star suffered Friday in a game against the Islanders. Pacioretty, 29, has 37 points (17 goals, 20 assists) in 64 games. ... Wild rookie F Luke Kunin is out for the season with a torn ACL in his left knee. Kunin suffered the tear during Sunday’s 4-1 win against the Red Wings. News services