T.J. Oshie shed his “no-contact” jersey in practice Thursday and went through the entire practice with no problems.
After missing 13 games, Oshie is expected to be in the Blues’ lineup Friday against Calgary. He practiced Thursday at left wing on a line with Patrik Berglund at center and David Perron at right wing.
“Barring any setbacks, he would play,” Blues coach Andy Murray said after practice.
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The Blues are so confident that Oshie will be ready that they’ve assigned Steve Regier to Peoria. Regier had three goals and an assist in eight games.
“He showed some good things,” Murray said. “This was the first real chance he’s been given to play in the NHL. We gave him the opportunity to play on our top units. He scored some big goals for us. He just needs to develop a little more strength and power. I think we made him aware of what he can work on. But he’s got a chance.”
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The rest of the lines in practice today:
David Backes-Keith Tkachuk-Brad Boyes
Alex Steen-Jay McClement-B.J. Crombeen
Yan Stastny-Cam Paddock-Brad Winchester/Cam Janssen
Murray: “We put Walt back in the middle. We need more production. (Calgary) has a big team and we’re a little bigger down the middle now.”
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Janssen has been a healthy scratch in back-to-back games.
“I think Cam will play this weekend,” Murray said. “Cam needs to be able to give us some minutes. We’re playing a lot of games and we need to be able to get some minutes out of Cam. To do that, he needs to play.”
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Minnesota scored an empty-net goal Wednesday, when the Wild’s Antti Miettinen was pulled down by Carlo Colaiacovo as he was attempting to shoot into an empty-net. The rule states that if the officials think it was a breakaway, and would have earned a penalty shot, then a goal is awarded.
“If the guy is totally in the clear, then it’s a goal,” Murray said. “If you watch it, I don’t know if he would have been totally in the clear. It’s a nothing goal at that point, the game is over. But it’s your pride . . . you don’t want to give it up.
“The one thing I’ll give our team credit for . . . we’re down 3-0 and we pull our goalie and we’re still trying. We had two or three great chances. I told our guys with six minutes to go, ‘Keep working here. If we get a chance with 3-4 minutes left, I’m going to pull the goalie. We’re not going to walk backwards out of this place. We’re going to keep pushing.’ Too often you play it out. You’re supposed to try to do something as a coach. Most people would say you’re crazy. But that’s what I believe. You’re supposed to keep coaching. Players are supposed to keep playing and coaches are supposed to keep coaching.”
JR
