David Backes scored two goals and registered an assist in St. Louis' 5-3 win over the New York Rangers. Backes also spent two minutes in the sin bin. After being limited to six goals in 48 games last season, he already has four goals in his first four games of 2013-14.

David Backes opened the regular season with a goal and an assist in a 4-2 win against Nashville. His power-play marker was the team's first goal of the 2013-14 campaign. Backes registered just six goals and 28 points in 48 games last year, so he's off to a good start in what should be a rebound season.

David Backes thinks the team needs to ignore the predictions that the St. Louis Blues will win the Stanley Cup in the 2014 playoffs. Backes felt the same was true when the predictions about the Blues were far less favorable years ago. "While they're the geniuses and the experts, they don't play the games and the games aren't played on paper in the preseason," Backes said. "It's 82 games of hard-nosed hockey." On top of that, in the salary cap era there's rarely a clear favorite to win the Stanley Cup going into the regular season. The Blues certainly have a shot, but Backes is right, they have a lot of work ahead of them.

David Backes was named to Team USA's five-player leadership group this week during their orientation camp. The team is projected to select their captain and alternates from a list that includes Backes, Dustin Brown of the Los Angeles Kings, Ryan Callahan of the New York Rangers, as well as Ryan Suter and Zach Parise of the Minnesota Wild. "I was extremely honored and humbled to be on my first Olympic team," Backes said Thursday. "The possibility of being on a second is a dream come true once again. It's exciting, but there are still some moving parts before departing for Sochi in February."

Coming up short against Canada in the gold-medal game of the 2010 Winter Olympics still stings St. Louis' David Backes. "It's a mixed bag," he said. "You were so excited and nervous at the same time. When that goal goes in, you're disappointed immediately and you're discouraged." Backes added that getting the silver medal is a "great accomplishment, but like I said before, there's some extra fuel on that fire to have that experience of being the best team in the world on that world stage. This is a great group of guys to try and accomplish that with." He's looking forward to getting another crack at gold in Sochi.

David Backes could move to the wing as the Blues now have a plethora of centers. St. Louis added Derek Roy and Maxim Lapierre to their depth chart at center over the last couple of days as they join Backes, Patrik Berglund and Alexander Steen in the middle. Barring injury, someone will have to move to the wing and coach Ken Hitchcock suggested that it could be Backes. It may give Backes extra value as there are a lot of centers who have fantasy value, certainly more than wingers. Backes was a disappointment in the shortened season as he had only six goals in 48 games, after 24 and 31 goals in the previous two seasons. Look for Backes to return to the 25 goal level with plenty of shots on goal, penalty minutes and a good plus/minus in 2013-14.

With the St. Louis Blues eliminated, David Backes will play for the U.S. team in the 2013 World Hockey Championships. Backes generated a disappointing offensive output in the 2013 regular season, managing 28 points in 48 games on just 100 SOG. His six goals would've been well short of the pace he generated in 2010-11 (31 tallies) and 2011-12 (24).

David Backes recorded an assist in St. Louis' 3-2 overtime loss Wednesday. Backes has a point in each of the Blues last two games, but it hasn't been enough to take either contest. He also has 20 hits and has won 59.6% of his faceoff opportunities in five playoff games.

David Backes says the St. Louis Blues need to do "some soul-searching" after the Los Angeles Kings tied the series at 2 games apiece Monday night. The Blues have now lost two straight games and allowed more goals Monday than in the previous three games combined. "To score three on them was fine and dandy but to give up four, that's not our style. We've got some soul-searching to do, look in the mirror and bring a better effort and more composed effort when we get home on Wednesday," Backes said after Monday's 4-3 loss. Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday night in St. Louis.

David Backes led the Blues with six shots on goal in a 1-0 loss Saturday night. Backes hasn't recorded a point in the Blues' first-round series. Barret Jackman blocked a team-high three shots on goal. Vladimir Sobotka won an incredible seven of his eight faceoff draws.