ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Blues captain David Backes returned to the lineup Friday at Scottrade Center after missing the past two games of the Western Conference First Round series against the Chicago Blackhawks with an upper-body injury.
The best-of-7 series is tied 2-2.
Backes hasn't played or even been seen by the media at any practice since he was hit by Chicago defenseman Brent Seabrook late in the third period of Game 2. Seabrook was suspended three games by the NHL Department of Player Safety for charging and interference; he will complete the suspension Friday.
Backes skated on a line with T.J. Oshie and Jaden Schwartz during warm-ups. Derek Roy was scratched to make room for Backes.
The Blues lost the two games Backes missed after winning the first two of the series with him in the lineup. They are winless and have scored five goals in their past five games without Backes, who missed the final three games of the regular season with a foot injury.
Backes had one assist and was a minus-2 in the first two games.
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