The Blues will get two of their top players back when defenseman Barret Jackman and left winger Andy McDonald return to the lineup today against Atlanta.

Jackman has missed 11 games with a high-ankle sprain. McDonald missed two games after his collision with the boards against Florida.

McDonald said he feels lucky to be back so soon after watching the replay of his accident.

“I didn’t realize how bad it was until I saw it on the replay,” he said “Anytime you go into the boards like that, especially at that speed, you’re kind of concerned. I’ve had minor injuries that have kept me out (lately), but I’m happy to be back in. I don’t think you’re ever 100 percent, but I feel like I’m good enough where I can play. Hopefully I can help this team win.”

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With Jackman playing, defenseman Darryl Sydor will sit out, and with McDonald in the lineup, center Keith Tkachuk will have the day off. The Blues are calling it a “maintenance day” for Sydor and Tkachuk, who are the two oldest players on the team at age 37.

“Obviously you want to play the games, but there’s a rhyme to the reason and you just take it as a rest day,” Sydor said. “Anybody that’s playing in the NHL wants to be in the lineup, but it’s just one of those days and you accept it, move on and work hard again tomorrow. We’re going to be playing a lot of hockey.”

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Defenseman Roman Polak is OK after flying over goaltender Chris Mason and into the back of the net last night. He will be back in the lineup today.

Here are the defensive pairings with Jackman back:

Barret Jackman-Erik Johnson

Eric Brewer-Alex Pietrangelo

Mike Weaver-Roman Polak

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I don’t have the forward combinations for today, but Lars Eller will be in the lineup. Lars was brought up under emergency conditions when McDonald went down. But the Blues have room on their roster, so it’s just a matter of taking away Eller’s “emergency” designation and making him a regular call up.

I’ve had memberes of Blues management and the coaching staff tell me that Eller has played well and that there are no immediate plans to send him back to Peoria.

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Blues backup Ty Conklin will be in net today against Atlanta. These are the last back-to-back games for the Blues until Nov. 27-28. So if the Blues can get Conklin a start today, they should be able to count on Mason for at least the next six or seven starts.

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With Saturday’s 2-1 shootout loss at Philadelphia, here’s the Blues’ record under Murray in OT and in shootouts since taking over in December 2006:

Overall: 21-34

Overtime: 9-17

Shootout: 12-17

2006-07: 4-3 OT, 3-5 shootout

2007-08: 1-8 OT, 3-5 shootout

2008-09: 4-4 OT, 6-6 shootout

2009-10: 0-2 in OT, 0-1 shootout

JR