Boy, did the Blues need to beat the Ducks Friday night at Scottrade Center.

This was a spirited, uplifting victory in front of their starving fans. From the opening (when newcomer B.J. Crombeen fought Anaheim hit man Travis Moen) to the finish (when Lee Stempniak won the game in overtime), this was a great show.

Say hello to Cam Janssen, by the way.

The Blues were missing a big chunk of their offense, with defenseman Erik Johnson, top scorer Andy McDonald, winger Paul Kariya, rookie catalyst T.J. Oshie and rookie center Patrik Berglund missing. Filling in were fellas like Crombeen, Brad Winchester, Cam Paddock and Steve Regier – players who weren’t in the team’s plans when the season started.

The big winner might have been David Backes, whose play had draw negative coaching reviews in recent weeks. The injuries forced Murray to try him at center and give him a bigger power-play role.

Backes responded with a goal and an assist, both with the man advantage. He played more than 21 minutes, put four shots on goal and finished with an even plus-minute rating.

This could have been a disastrous game, especially after Anaheim tied the game in the final second of regulation play. But the makeshift team persevered for Murray, who got the most out of players who aren’t eager to return to the AHL any time soon.

That said, this team still needs to get Kariya, Berglund and Oshie back ASAP. Living without McDonald (broken foot) for even more weeks will be difficult.

NICE WIN FOR BISHOP

Big Ben Bishop stopped 30 of 31 shots as the depleted Peoria Rivermen edged the Rockford IceHogs 3-1 on the road.

“There was a lot of firepower missing,” Riverman coach Davis Payne said after the game. “We knew we had to play a solid team game in order to have a chance. That was our focus and I felt like we did that for the most part. Towards the end, it felt like we were riding the bull for longer than eight seconds. They (Rockford) had a good push in the third period, but our goaltender made some big saves and we were able to get enough time off the clock to get that empty-netter.”

MISSING BRENDEN MORROW

Dallas lost power forward Brenden Morrow for the rest of the season, which was a major blow for the struggling stars.

For more on that injury and others that impact fantasy hockey, check this out.

AROUND THE RINKS: Young Ducks power forward Bobby Ryan didn’t deserve to start this season in the AHL this season, but salary cap issues forced the team to bury him. In his first game back in the NHL, Ryan sent a clear message buy scoring three points . . . The more Hockey Guy watches Mike Zigomanis excel for the Penguins as a checking center and faceoff specialist, the more Hockey Guy wonders why the Blues didn’t take a longer look at him during the 2005-06 season. Zigomanis often takes the draw on Pittsburgh’s first power-play unit. But he couldn’t play in St. Louis . . . Lightning center Vincent Lecavalier is denying that he orchestrated the demise of Tampa Bay coach Barry Melrose, who obviously failed to adapt to the new NHL. That team was going nowhere fast and the team’s maverick ownership group had to own up to its initial hiring blunder. Melrose is a tremendous hockey analyst and the NHL will celebrate his imminent return to broadcasting. Few men have done as much to promote hockey in the United States as Melrose . . . The courtship of Mats Sundin has escalated. The Senators vow to create the needed cap room if Mats is willing to join that team . . . For the moment, old friend Pavol Demitra is back on the ice for the Canucks, mannig a point on the power play . . . Hurricanes winger Justin Williams, on the mend from Achilles tendon surgery, is already back on skates . . . So, by the way, is Penguins defenseman Ryan Whitney, on the comeback trail from foot surgery. With him and Sergei Gonchar sidelined, Pittsburgh needed a power-play hammer on the blue line. The Pens swapped extra defenseman Darryl Sydor to Dallas to land Phillippe Boucher, who will try to revive his offensive game . . . Vancouver fans groaned this afternoon when Roberto Luongo was helped off the ice during the Canucks game in Pittsburgh. He suffered what appeared to be a significant knee or groin injury. This puts old friend Curtis Sanford on the spot . . . Speaking of goaltenders, this was Patrick Roy Weekend in Montreal. If you were a fan, check out this remembrance.