Blues Come Back-es

From a major scare to a major triumph, Blues captain David Backes was an inspiration for his teammates Saturday night against the Buffalo Sabres.

With his team off their usual game, the mighty captain took a hard spill into the boards in the first period. He got up slow and went down the tunnel towards the locker room.

http://youtu.be/ouhHIqT4q7s

Four points later, he led the Blues to another home victory and their 29th win of the season.

As a captain should do, David Backes led by example on the ice after his return from the locker room. He played possessed out on the ice. He woke up his teammates, who had a weak first period but recovered in the final two, on the back of their captain.

The turning point came in the second period, as the Blues were in their usual struggle to score goals. Backes skated around the back of the net, and fed B.J. Crombeen for the game-tying goal. That goal opened the gates. Shortly after, Backes assisted on the David Perron goal that put the Blues up for good. But Backes was just getting started.

Another tight one-goal game at home was unacceptable for the captain. So he buried a power-play goal to put them up two, and later tallied an empty-netter that sealed the victory.

When the Blues captain left the game early in the game, you could feel a major void on the bench and on the ice. Once Backes returned, it was like watching a different team.

It's what Backes has been doing all year long. He's near the top on his team in goals, shots, hits and penalty minutes. He's one of the most complete players in the NHL and one of the few who can inspire and motivate his team in the way that he does.

Considering the way the Blues are going now, I would have to consider Backes for NHL MVP. Yet he's not even an All-Star, which is a completely different topic of discussion. But when you look at some of the top teams in the league and which players in those locker rooms make them go, Backes must at least be in the conversation.

Even if he's not recognized for all of his hard work and impact on this team, Backes won't change the player that he is or his game. He'll just work harder to prove everyone wrong, and make them recognize that there's something special going on with the St. Louis Blues, and Backes is a big reason behind it.