Backes leads a resurgence for Blues

It wasn't the most comfortable position for a team captain to be in, but David Backes didn't shrink from his responsibility. Heading into Wednesday's Game 4, the St. Louis center had not scored a point in the Blues' first-round playoff series against the Wild, and he understood the importance — statistically and symbolically — of his role.

"I need to be the first guy on the page, leading by example,'' said Backes, a Blaine native who played at Spring Lake Park and Minnesota State Mankato. "I need to do a better job and be able to contribute more, especially on the offensive side of the game. That will help us as we go.''

Backes boosted the Blues in grand style Wednesday, assisting on their second goal and scoring their third in a 6-1 victory at Xcel Energy Center. After saying before the game that he expected some "great efforts,'' Backes delivered one himself, demonstrating the "hard-nosed Blues hockey'' he said was necessary to tying the series.

In the first three games, three of the Blues' top six scorers — Backes, T.J. Oshie and Paul Stastny — had failed to register a point. They combined for two goals and two assists in Game 4, with Backes contributing a goal, an assist and three hits.

"We did a good job of playing our game for 60 minutes,'' Backes said. "There was no letting off the gas. It was a good team effort.

"When we play the right way, it's wave after wave. It's sharing the load, and someone is going to get an opportunity and bury it. That's what we need to continue to do to have success.''

Though he wasn't happy with the Blues' wan performance in Monday's 3-0 loss, Backes had spent the next 36 hours calmly explaining what his team needed to do to fix things. It needed to be more assertive against the Wild's speedsters from the opening faceoff, he said, and it needed to get more shots and bodies to the net. Mostly, Backes said, the Blues had to stick with their plan throughout the game and have faith in the gritty style that carried them to a Central Division championship.

On Wednesday, Blues coach Ken Hitchcock reunited Backes with former linemates Oshie and Alexander Steen, a trio that had played together much of the regular season until injuries forced some juggling. Backes said that combination had been effective in a variety of situations, and he expected it to work again.

Backes helped set up Vladimir Tarasenko's tip-in at 6 minutes, 59 seconds of the first period. At 10:06, he followed his own advice and bulled to the Wild's net, where he punched the puck past goalie Devan Dubnyk.

Before the game, Backes said he expected the Blues to reveal their character Wednesday. Though he liked what he saw, he won't be satisfied until he sees a repeat in Game 5.