When Erik Johnson walked into the Blues’ locker room after Friday’s 6-2 win over Colorado, the media got a chuckle. Johnson was wearing an obnoxious Blues hat, circa 1994, that looked like he bought it at a gas station.

Judge for yourself . . .

Erik Johnson

“I’m just trying to bring some history back to the organization,” Johnson said. “I got it for $8 bucks at a hotel gift shop, where I have lunch sometimes. Trying to be back history. It’s going to be my hat for the season. We’ll see how it goes.”

Could it be Johnson’s good-luck charm?

“I don’t know,” he said. “We won and I wore it (after) the two games I played, so I think I’m going to keep wearing it. I guess it could be the good-luck charm.”

On a serious note, Johnson said he felt much more comfortable Friday night than he did on Tuesday, which was his first game in 17 months.

“Way better,” Johnson said. “Tuesday I probably felt like a three out of 10 and (Friday) I probably felt like a six or a seven. Still a lot of room for improvement. But I thought that I skated better, moved the puck better. I just felt way better about my game. It’s amazing what a difference a game can make.”

Johnson made a terrific pass on the second goal of the game, scored by Paul Kariya, giving the Blues a 2-0 lead. Johnson sent a saucer up ice to Keith Tkachuk, who dropped a pass for Kariya. Kariya ripped a shot for his second goal of the preseason.

“It was the simple play and that’s what I’ve tried to do . . . not complicate things,” he said. “That was the open play. Me and Walt had some good chemistry my rookie year, some really good chemistry, and I’m just trying to bring that back.”

Blues coach Andy Murray noticed Johnson’s improvement from Tuesday.

“I think Erik is just going to continue to get better,” Murray said. “I think the key thing for him is he wants it to happen all at once and it’s just not going to be that way. The guy hasn’t played hockey for a year in a competitive situation. But I think Erik was better tonight than he was the first night, and that’s what we’re looking for.”

Johnson might have been a six on his own performance scale Friday night, but his hat is a two.

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Blues forward Derek Armstrong had another goal and assist Friday night. That’s after having a Gordie Howe hat-trick (a goal, assist and a fight) in Tuesday’s game against Minnesota. Granted the Blues put out a more talented lineup than their opponents did in their first two preseason games, but Armstrong has been one of the Blues’ better players both nights.

The numbers suggest that the Blues don’t have room for him. His play has suggested otherwise.

“Those decisions aren’t made by me . . . those decisions are made at a higher level than my competence,” said Murray, who coached Armstrong for three seasons in L.A. “But the bottom line is whether something happens right now, or not, you know what you have. If somebody is more deserving than another player, whether they’re here at the start or not, they’re going to be there. We’ll find a way to get them here.”

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Goaltender Jake Allen had tough start Friday night. He took over for Ty Conklin to start the third period and allowed a goal by the Avs just 26 seconds into the period. Murray took the blame off Allen on the goal and said the Blues’ second-round draft pick from 2008 rebounded well after that.

“We turned the puck over,” Murray said. “His first opportunity, he didn’t have much opportunity to get set there. I thought he made a couple of real good saves after that, which was a real good sign for us.”

JR