T.J. Oshie came onto the ice about 25 minutes after the rest of the Blues for today's morning skate, and it was obvious he was having trouble handling the puck.

Oshie has a ligament injury in his left wrist, the opposite wrist that he injured last month in Minnesota, and he will sit out the next two games to let the injury heal. With two days off for Christmas and two days off after Tuesday's game in Detroit, Oshie will go six days without playing before his expected return Friday.

"Osh has a sore wrist and we've opted to get him as close to 100 percent as we can," Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said. "We've opted to keep him out for these two games and then put him in against Nashville. Rather than just keep monitoring it and getting it halfway decent, this way we get it close to 100 percent."

Doctors took a look at the wrist this morning to see if surgery was needed, and the verdict was "no."

"That's why he came in late (to practice)," Hitchcock said. "We looked at that option today with the doctors ... no, this is day to day."

Oshie jammed his other wrist, his right one, in Minnesota on Nov. 19 and missed two days of practice, but didn't miss a game. He had recovered from that injury, but then experienced pain in the wrist sometime on the Blues' last road trip.

"The other one is fine and this one is aggravated," Hitchcock said. "Rather than go through what we did on the other one, we've opted to take these two games and sit him."

Oshie leads the Blues, along with Alex Steen, with 23 points. He is tied for second with David Backes in goals with 11.

"He's like the heart and soul of this team," forward Matt D'Agostini said. "What he does on the ice, how he works for us, it does a lot more for the team than what he does putting up goals and points. It'll be tough missing him, but we've got guys here to fill that opportunity."

Evgeny Grachev will take Oshie's spot on the second line with Patrik Berglund and David Perron. Adam Cracknell has been recalled from Peoria and will play tonight. Jamie Langenbrunner missed the morning skate with the flu, but Hitchcock said he is expected to play. Ryan Reaves (rib injury) will likely sit out.

"This allows a guy like Grachev to move up in the lineup, where he played in exhibition," Hitchcock said. "We want to see how that looks. I think from a team standpoint, we feel like we have enough forwards that we can recover nicely. We've got lots of options open to us. We're going to miss (Oshie), but it's not like you're talking two weeks or three weeks or four weeks, or anything. You're talking two games and we can survive for two games."

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TONIGHT'S LINEUP

Forwards

Alex Steen-David Backes-Chris Stewart

Evgeny Grachev-Patrik Berglund-David Perron

Chris Porter-Jason Arnott-Matt D'Agostini

Adam Cracknell-Scott Nichol-Jamie Langenbrunner

Defensemen

Barret Jackman-Kevin Shattenkirk

Carlo Colaiacovo-Alex Pietrangelo

Kris Russell-Roman Polak

Goalie

Jaroslav Halak

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CAPTAIN CRACKNELL

Adam Cracknell, who was recently named captain of the Peoria Rivermen, will make his season debut with the Blues tonight. In 24 games last season in St. Louis, Cracknell had three goals and four assists.

Cracknell, 26, has played 30 games with the Rivermen this season, registering six goals and 14 assists. He said that his confidence level being called up to the NHL is much improved.

"A lot more nerves last year," Cracknell said. "I know what's expected of me. Having a good season, so far, working hard. I know my role up here ... I've just got to come in here and help the team win, keep it going."

Hitchcock said of Cracknell's call-up, "This gives us a chance to look at Adam and see what he's got too. The coaches and management really like what he brings to the table. If he can bring extra stuff, then it gives us even more options."

Cracknell said he had no plans of asking David Backes if he could wear the "C" in St. Louis.

"No, I don't think that would go over too well," Cracknell said. "I'm just going to keep quiet in my little corner over here."

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COLE'S STATUS

Defensman Ian Cole will be a healthy scratch for the eighth time in the last nine games, including seven consecutive. Boiling it down, he has played just one game in the last 22 days.

Asked if the club needed to get him in the lineup, Hitchcock said: "Yeah, yeah I do. He needs to start playing, whether it's here or a few games down there. He needs to start playing. I think we're at that stage right now where we've got to look at that. But when you're playing well, who do you take out right now? It's hard to take a guy out right now. But I think he's got to start playing again. He was playing good and you don't want to get him too far away from the competition. You can only do so many good things at practice and you've got to start playing."

How would the Blues get Cole playing if none of the defensemen play their way out of the lineup? 

"I don't know yet," Hitchcock said. "I think we'll see how we play in the next two nights. We've asked a little bit more from some of the defensemen ... we'll see if they can give it to us." 

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ODDS & ENDS

- Alex Steen's +22 rating is tied for fourth in the NHL. The leader is Boston's Tyler Seguin at +26.

- Dallas was 2-0 against the Blues at Scottrade Center last season.

- Chris Stewart has 11 shots on goal and a +2 rating in his last two games. 

- Because of the Christmas break, the Stars' travel plans were altered. The team skated in Dallas this morning before flying into St. Louis in the early afternoon.