MacInnis

MacInnis' return 1:10 into the Blues' game at Vancouver came less than two weeks after undergoing a procedure to reinflate the lung. It also paves the way for the 36-year-old to appear in his 11th NHL All-Star game this weekend in Toronto.

MacInnis was a plus-1 with two shots as the Blues won their fifth straight game entering the All-Star break.

"Al brings a lot to this group," said Blues coach Joel Quenneville, who is an assistant coach for the World All-Star team. "He's real steady. I thought he was real good out there."

MacInnis was initially expected to miss up to four weeks when the injury was revealed after a Jan. 21 game at Chicago. Doctors believe MacInnis already had a slow leak in his lung when a heavy check by Chicago's Bob Probert worsened it.

MacInnis, who before his injury recorded his 795th assist to pass Guy Lafleur for 24th place on the career list, was last season's Norris Trophy winner as the NHL's top defenseman. In 34 games this season, MacInnis has seven goals and 27 points.