GameThread For St. Louis Blues At Edmonton Oilers, Dec. 21, 2013

December's the month of heartwarming miracles. Oil lasting eight days (ok, that usually happens in December, but it floats), the celebration of the birth of Christ, and Santa Claus. Some kid somewhere must've sat on Santa's lap and asked for David Backes for Christmas, because that's what we're getting tonight. Backes is back in the line up, which should make the Oilers' top line cringe.

Ilya Bryzgalov needs to be cringing too. He's going to have to deal with the Blues' pressuring offense coming at him all night. Luckily for him Roman Polak just got assigned to the IR - I heard Bryzzy is scared of bears.

This is your gameday thread. Make some coffee (Irish, preferably), and settle in for a good one. Just say a prayer that the Best Ice In The NHL doesn't claim it's sacrificial victim tonight.

Let's do this. Let's Go Blues.