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David Backes, T.J. Oshie out with concussions for Blues

Oct 18, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; St. Louis Blues center David Backes (42) lines up for a face off against the Arizona Coyotes during the third period at Gila River Arena. The Blues won 6-1. (Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports)
Oct 18, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; St. Louis Blues center David Backes (42) lines up for a face off against the Arizona Coyotes during the third period at Gila River Arena. The Blues won 6-1. (Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports)

So things are really going well for the St. Louis Blues.

There are been frustrating losses and bacterial infections and now those “has Ken Hitchcock worn out his welcome?!” stories have begun.

Now, more super terrific news: David Backes and T.J. Oshie are both out of the lineup. With concussions.

"Backes is concussed, out ... Oshie is concussed, out," Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said, via STLToday.com. "Oshie has something else going, plus the concussion. We're not sure whether it's the bacterial (infection)."

Yuck.

Backes hit his head on the ice after taking a hit from Trevor Daley of the Dallas Stars in Tuesday’s 4-3 overtime win.

Oshie, on a play that Hitchcock admitted “scared him,” slid into the goal post head-first in the second period against Dallas.

It’s not the first brain injury for either player. Oshie was concussed last April on a head-shot from Mike Rupp, for which the Minnesota Wild forward was suspended.

Backes … well, he’s had a few. He had concussion-related symptoms after a hit against the Ottawa Senators last December. Then there was the Brent Seabrook hit against Backes in last year’s playoffs, which led to the infamous “wakey wakey” taunt from Duncan Keith.

And that was just this season.

Meanwhile, Paul Stastny is out of the lineup recovering from his injury. With Backes and Oshie out indefinitely, Magnus Paajarvi and Chris Porter will hit the ice against the Ducks on Thursday.