St. Louis Blues Player To Watch vs. Edmonton Oilers: Colton Parayko

Defenseman will be tasked with shutting down McDavid, high octane Oilers offense after setting Blues record for most overtime goals against Flames on Thursday

The consensus would argue that St. Louis Blues player to watch -- or players to watch -- naturally would be Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway, who make their highly-anticipated returns to face the Edmonton Oilers for the first time since each signed an offer sheet to play for the Blues.

And while there will be plenty of focus on each individual, there will be plenty of focus divvied up for the Blues (13-12-2), who look to extend their point streak to six games against the Oilers (14-10-2) today at 9 p.m. (FDSNMW, ESPN 101.1-FM).

How about Colton Parayko? The Blues' top-pairing defenseman, who will be paired with Broberg tonight, should garner plenty of attention.

After playing just under 30 minutes and scoring the game-winner in a 4-3 overtime win against the Calgary Flames on Thursday to set a Blues record for overtime goals among defensemen, Parayko should command similar minutes tonight. And why wouldn't he, since he will be on the ice, along with Broberg, with Connor McDavid also on the ice.

McDavid averages just over a point per game lifetime against the Blues (eight goals, 17 assists) in 24 games, and you can count on Parayko, who will be a teammate of McDavid's in February with Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off, to be on the ice Saturday trying to stop one of, if not the best player in the game today.

It's also a homecoming for Parayko, who hails from nearby St. Albert, Alberta and will have family in the stands, which will give him extra juice.

But if it's not trying to contain McDavid, Parayko will also see plenty of Leon Draisaitl and other high-end talent.

Parayko is a plus-5 since Jim Montgomery arrived Nov. 24 and has logged over 26 minutes in three of them, so it's obvious he will be leaned on for big minutes again tonight.