Oshie Returning To Blues

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The Blues finish a three-game homestand Thursday night at Scottrade Center when hosting Calgary in a 7:30 start. The Note is 5-6-1 following back-to-back shutout losses at home. The Flames are 7-4-1 after back-to-back home losses. Brent Sutter's team plays at Dallas tonight before making their way to St. Louis.

Andy Murray will have the services of forward T-J Oshie for the first time since an October 23rd win at Scottrade Center over Minnesota. Following the game Oshie was hospitalized and had his appendix removed, leading to a near-two week leave from the lineup. The second year Blue has a goal and two assists in eight games this season and is a minus-one thus far. Last season the North Dakota product netted 14 goals and helped on 25 others in 57 games while earning a plus-14 rating.

The Blues haven't played since being blanked, 4-0, Saturday night at home against Florida. This week in practice Murray has been using Oshie at the left point of one of the team's two power play units. The Note's man advantage has slid all the way to 27th in the NHL's rankings having only converted six of 43 chances. The opposing Flames will bring to town the number-two PP having scored on 10 of 36 attempts.

The Note will play another game without blueliner Carlo Colaiacovo, who is still feeling the effects of flu. Forward Andy McDonald is also expected to miss after crashing into the boards on Saturday night.

Murray was a guest earlier today on "The Bernie Miklasz Show" and to his credit, as per usual, made no excuses for the team's disappointing start.

Bernie cited an amazing fact that all four coaches who took NHL team's overseas last season eventually were relieved of their duties in midseason. Tampa Bay's Barry Melrose, Ottawa's Craig Hartsburg, the New York Rangers' Tom Renney and Pittsburgh's Michael Therien were all replaced. The Rangers and Lightning met in Prague of the Czech Republic. The Penguins and Senators faced one another in Stockholm.

Murray refuses to make starting the regular season in Sweden an excuse for any of what's ailling the Blues.

TPC