Patrik Berglund, T.J. Oshie and Alex Pietrangelo will make their debuts with the Blues tonight. That meant for a rough night of sleep last night and an early morning for the three today.

“I woke up earlier than my alarm this morning,” Berglund said. “I’m really excited and a little nervous. I’ve really been looking forward to this my entire life. Now the day is here. I’m just going to take in the great atmosphere that’s going to be there tonight. When I put on my gear, I’m not going to think too much at all.”

Oshie and Berglund are roommates, but Oshie didn’t know that Berglund woke up early.

“I didn’t know that, but I did, too,” Oshie said. “My alarm was set for 8 a.m. and I woke up about 7:50 a.m. I just turned the alarm off and got up. I don’t know if that was the sun coming through the window, or I’m just excited. Obviously I’ve been waiting for this for a long time. But I just want to get out there, have fun and just play.”

The same thing happened with Pietrangelo, who didn’t find out until last Monday that he had made the team.

“I was eating breakfast and my alarm went off this morning,” Pietrangelo said. “I couldn’t sleep last night and then I woke up early this morning.”

All three players attended their first ”morning skate” today, but didn’t know if they’d be able to take a nap when they got home this afternoon. Those naps are customary for hockey players on the day of a game.

“I’ll have to watch a really boring movie or something to put myself to sleep,” Pietrangelo said.  

None of the three had any idea what they’d be feeling at 7:35 tonight when the puck drops.

“I’ve been trying to tell myself to (play it cool), but I’m sure when it’s game time, it’s going to be a little bit different,” Oshie said.

“There will be a lot of nerves,” Pietrangelo said. “I’m sure all three of us will be pretty nervous. But that’s what the first shift is for. Get that out of the way and go from there.”

********

Erik Johnson was in the Blues’ locker room today. Unfortunately for him, he won’t be on the ice for tonight’s home opener, following his season-ending knee injury last month.

Johnson noted that he also missed last year’s home opener, after breaking a bone in his foot in the Blues’ season opener in Phoenix.

“I’ve never had a home opener,” Johnson said. “It’s kind of funny to think that a guy (Pietrangelo) drafted two years after me is going to have a home opener before I do . . . a silly injury last year and now this thing this year. But there’s a lot of excitement. It’s nothing like the preseason. Once the first shift gets out of the way, though, everything blends in. You don’t notice that the crowd is there. They’ll be excited. I just say, ‘Remember it, because it’s only going to happen once.’”

Johnson does not have a date scheduled for his surgery, but it probably will happen in the next few weeks.

“It feels 1,000 times better than it did a week ago,” Johnson said. “I don’t really have any pain. All of the swelling is pretty much gone. We’ll just wait a little bit longer and go from there.”

********

Tonight’s lineup:

Forwards

Lee Stempniak-Andy McDonald-Brad Boyes

Paul Kariya-Patrik Berglund-David Perron

Keith Tkachuk-T.J. Oshie-David Backes

Cam Janssen-Jay McClement-Chris Porter

- Andy Murray heard Oshie say in a radio interview that he was a third-line center. Murray pulled Oshie in his office the next day and said “You’re the gray-line center.” (Murray’s terminology with the forwards is red, blue, gray, gold . . . not 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th line). Murray emphasized the point by asking Oshie how he thinks Tkachuk would feel being called a third-line center.

- Perron said he’s still bothered by a muscle strain, but he will play tonight.

- Dan Hinote (cut leg) and D.J. King (wrist) still aren’t ready to play and will stay on IR.

- Yan Stastny (hip-flexor) didn’t skate today and is not ready.

- Chris Porter was recalled from Peoria Thursday and should be in the lineup tonight.

Defense:

Eric Brewer-Steve Wagner

Barret Jackman-Alex Pietrangelo

Jay McKee-Roman Polak

- Murray said Thursday that putting a veteran d-men with a young player was a consideration when drawing up the pairings.

- Mike Weaver will be a healthy scratch.

Goalie

Manny Legace

********

Remember, the Blues’ pre-game pep rally outside Scottrade Center begins at 5 p.m.

JR