T.J. Oshie recorded a team-worst minus-4 for the Blues in their opening round series loss to Los Angeles.

Oshie returned from a late-season injury to suit up for the Blues in Game One of the series, but it's fair to question whether he returned too soon, as he became a defensive liability. The winger is a talented scorer and we shouldn't read too much into such a small sample, but let's hope coach Ken Hitchcock has a short memory entering next season.

Right winger T.J. Oshie scored two goals for the St. Louis Blues in Los Angeles Thursday night but it was the Kings who emerged victorious.

The Kings, who had been limited to only one goal in all three of the teams' previous games in this opening-round playoff series, wound up Thursday on the winning side of a 4-3 result. Oshie's first goal of the night gave the Blues a 2-0 lead. That was at 4:32. He also scored the only goal of the second period to give the Blues a 3-2 lead. The goals were Oshie's first and second of the playoffs. Also scoring for the Blues was David Backes, his first of the series. Vladimir Sobotka chipped in with two assists for the Blues, his second and third of the post-season.

St. Louis Blues coach Ken Hitchcock confirmed Tuesday that T.J. Oshie (ankle) will be back in the lineup for tonight's Game 1 vs. the Kings.

Oshie's been sidelined since March 28 with the injury but practiced Monday and appeared ready to return. Hitchcock said the Blues wouldn't rush Oshie back into the lineup, which means he should be as close to 100 percent as possible at this time of the year. Those owners that drafted Oshie in their playoff pools are feeling much better right now. Rookie Vladimir Tarasenko will sit for Oshie.

While the St. Louis Blues seem optimistic about getting him back for the start of the playoffs, it's worth noting that T.J. Oshie didn't practice on Sunday.

The young forward has been sidelined since March 28 with an ankle injury that required a surgical procedure. It's difficult to tell if the Blues are merely being overly optimistic regarding his return.

The Blues believe T.J. Oshie will be fully recovered from his ankle injury to play in Game 1 of their playoff series with the Kings.

Coach Ken Hitchcock reiterated the team didn't want to rush Oshie back, which explains why he did not dress for any of the team's last few regular season contests. "We're not taking any risks there," Hitchcock said. "We'll wait until the first possible playoff game and then go from there." Feel free to draft Oshie as you normally would in playoff pools.

T.J. Oshie is not expected to play Saturday when the Blues wrap up the regular season against Chicago, but the opening game of the playoffs - Tuesday or Wednesday - is a legitimate target.

Oshie missed eight games before the surgery, when his injury was labeled as a serious bruise, and Thursday he sat out his fifth game since the surgery. "He's a notoriously quick healer," Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said. "He and (Barret) Jackman have the highest pain thresh-hold of our group, so I'm not surprised."

T.J. Oshie (ankle) hasn't skated for the past two days, but his time off the ice has been by design.

"Fully part of the plan," coach Ken Hitchcock said Thursday. "He'll be a full-time participant starting tomorrow. He'll be ready to go." Oshie hopes to be ready for the start of the playoffs.

T.J. Oshie (ankle) skated on Tuesday.

Oshie underwent ankle surgery a week ago and his returning to the ice so quickly bodes well for the playoffs. He has seven goals and 20 points in 30 games this season and is worth looking at in playoff pools if you like the Blues.

T.J. Oshie (ankle) wants to be ready for the start of the playoffs.

He had surgery on his ankle on Tuesday and hasn't resumed skating yet, but a return by then could be realistic if everything goes smoothly.

T.J. Oshie underwent successful surgery on his ankle Tuesday, but now he's listed as week-to-week.

It was thought that he might be close to returning following a good showing at practice Monday, but the discovery of a stress fracture put the kibosh on that. Oshie hasn't played since March 28 and he's been on injured reserve since April 2.