PITTSBURGH — Blues backup goaltender Ty Conklin was coming off a shutout over Anaheim on Saturday, but coach Andy Murray said there was no doubt which netminder to start against Pittsburgh on Tuesday.

Chris Mason was back in net for the Blues, a decision Murray said was made before Conklin's 26-save performance against the Ducks.

"Our decision was made before Ty played the game in Anaheim ... no matter what the circumstances were (afterward), Chris Mason was going to play the game here tonight against Pittsburgh," Murray said. "Chris has played really well. We would have no reason not to go back to our No. 1 goaltender at this point. That is how we will proceed in the early part of the season here."

It's questionable whether Mason and Conklin could have stopped Pittsburgh if they were both in net in Tuesday's 5-1 win for the Penguins. The Penguins had 20 shots on goal in the first period, a sign of the pressure that Mason was under throughout the game.

Mason allowed four goals on 35 shots before being replaced by Conklin to start the third period.

Murray said Mason deserved none of the blame, and in fact he purposely waited to take Mason out until the intermission.

"When they scored their fourth goal, I don't believe you pull the goalie out, unless it's the goalie's fault and obviously it wasn't (Mason's) fault," Murray said. "That goalie skating off the ice during the game is a lonely feeling. He didn't deserve to have that. He wanted to play the third, but for good reason, we gave him a break. It had nothing to do with him."

DEFENSIVE SCORING

The Blues' Erik Johnson registered an assist Tuesday night, giving the team's defensemen a combined 13 points through seven games this season.

Last season, Blues' defensemen didn't post their 13th point until the team's 17th game of the season.

Johnson, meanwhile, has seven assists through seven games this season. A year ago, a Blues defenseman didn't record his seventh point until Barret Jackman did it in the club's 30th game of the season.

KING UPDATE

Blues forward D.J. King will rejoin the team Thursday, following a two-week conditioning stint in Peoria.

King, who suffered a dislocated thumb in training camp, has not played a game since October 2008. He missed all but one game last season.