After a layoff that stretched past the NHL All-Star break to include the first postponed home game in St. Louis Blues history, the Blues are back in actions against the Edmonton Oilers Friday, for their first home game since Jan. 22. They'll have help—Andy McDonald, out since suffering a concussion on Dec. 4, will return in time for Friday night's game at Scottrade Center.
With McDonald and T.J. Oshie both back in action the Blues will look to pull out of their more recent losing streak, a four game affair that's gotten them stuck back at the bottom of the Western Conference's Central division. McDonald had 17 points in the 25 games he played before the concussion; his eight goals are still good for sixth on the team, despite having played half as many games as the top five.
The Oilers have pulled well ahead of the back as the worst team in the Western Conference, at 15-27-8 with just 38 points. Their 123 goals are 27th in the NHL—seven fewer than the Blues—and their 171 goals against are 30th. After a long layoff, and with McDonald working his way back into game action, the Blues couldn't have asked for a better opponent. But they'll still have to win the game.