The Blues held an extensive practice on Tuesday at St. Louis Mills. One of the line combinations employed Patrik Berglund, a center by trade, on left wing with center Jay McClement and right winger B.J. Crombeen.

In recent games, Blues coach Andy Murray put Paul Kariya on the left side with McClement and Crombeen, and Kariya responded with his best hockey of the season. Looks like McClement and Crombeen now might try to get Berglund jump started. With 21 goals and 47 points last season, Berglund has two goals and four points in 17 games thus far.

While underlining the lines he put out in practice were not etched in stone for Thursday’s game with Phoenix, Murray acknowledged getting Berglund untracked - as well as several others - is important.

“We have two days before our game with Phoenix … so we wanted to have a look at some different combinations in practice today,” Murray said. “Today, Patrik was playing left wing. He’s played wing before in the world championships.

“Sometimes you need to maybe change a guy out of the role he’s been in and let him have some success in another role, and it may get him going. Obviously, B.J. Crombeen and Jay McClement have done that for other guys on our team this year.”

With Berglund on a wing, David Backes was playing center between T.J. Oshie and Kariya.

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Backes revealed it was a neck injury that knocked him out of the San Jose game on Saturday. During a scramble in front of the Sharks net, Oshie skated past and accidently clipped Backes, who on his knees at the time. The jolt sent Backes to the bench and he did not return.

But after treatment from the Blues staff, which included some chiropractic application, Backes was back at full tilt on Tuesday.

“I ended up on the ice right in front of him and he’s going about 100 miles per hour and unfortunately, I just took the brunt of it.” Backes said. “But we’re good to go. It was good to get back in the ice. I’m still looking for my hands, though, so if anyone knows where those are let me know.”

A 31-goal scorer last season, Backes has one goal on 40 shots thus far, a 2.5 shooting percentage.

“Hopefully I can fall down in front of the net and get one off a skate or my face or anything right now,” Backes added. “I’ll lose a tooth if that’s what it takes to get one in there right now.”