Getting captain Eric Brewer back was a huge lift for the Blues. Soon, Barret Jackman (sprained ankle), Carlo Colaiacovo (flu) and T.J. Oshie (appendectomy) will be back, too, giving coach Andy Murray some decisions to make.

Thursday night, Brewer’s return prompted Murray to start seven defenseman and go short one forward, with Brad Winchester out. Rookie Alex Pietrangelo got to make his case in just his fourth game of the season.

Brewer got a smattering of applause when he came out with Roman Polak for the third even-strength defensive shift of the game. Brewer looked a bit rusty, but what did you expect?

Erik Johnson and Pietrangelo manned the points on the first power-play bid and each D-man helped generate a scoring chance. Is this the future for the Blues?

Elsewhere in the NHL, the injury carnage has been significant. When the NHL loses Evgeni Malkin, Ilya Kovalchuk and Roberto Luongo in same week, you know it’s tough out there.

AROUND THE RINKS: Down at Peoria, defensive prospect Jonas Junland has scored five goals with five assists in eight games. At some point, another NHL team may be interesting in freeing him from this AHL captivity . . . Top forward prospect Lars Eller has seven points in eight games . . . Looking to add some beef, the Ducks signed veteran winger Kyle Calder to a two-way contract. He is in the ECHL scraping off the rust, but he will give Anaheim some options later in the season . . . Canadiens goaltender Jaroslav Halak has supplanted Carey Price as the starter in Montreal, at least for the time being. HockeyBuzz.com suggests that Montreal could move Price for another front-line NHL goaltender during the weeks ahead, so keep an eye on that . . . While the Blues hem and haw about Pietrangelo’s fate for this season, the Sabres have elected to keep kid defenseman Tyler Myers with the big club this season. Like Alex, he had junior eligibility . . . Blues fans will be shocked – SHOCKED – to learn that the Canucks might have to write off Pavol Demitra because of chronic injuries . . . The upstart Kings got better on defense by adding Flyers defenseman Randy Jones on waivers . . . Former Blues assistant coach Ted Sator, formerly the national coach of Slovenia’s national team, now serves a similar role for Hungary’s hockey program . . . Former Rivermen defenseman Andy Wozniewski scored 14 points in his first eight games with the Providence Bruins of the AHL . . . The Leafs hope to get speedy winger Phil Kessel on the ice next week, which would give its flagging offense a huge lift.