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Earlier this week, the Blues nominated cornerstone defenseman Colton Parayko for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy for his humanitarian efforts in the community.

On Saturday night, the franchise celebrated his big contributions on the ice in Seattle. He returned after missing 17 games because of a knee injury to help his team edge closer to the playoff bracket.

“He looked really good,� Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. “It looks like he is ready to go full tilt again.�

Parayko scored a goal during the frantic third period to help the Blues earn a key point in their 4-3 shootout loss to the Kraken.

“You can see his presence out there,� Blues defenseman Nick Leddy said. “What a huge goal for us. Played big minutes. He was on that (4 Nations Face-Off) Canadian team for a reason. He’s a very special player and a very special individual as well.�

That point kept the Blues in control of their playoff fate. They have 94 points with one game left, at home Tuesday against the Utah Hockey Club.

The Calgary Flames began Sunday with 90 points and three games left, beginning Sunday night at home against San Jose. The Blues hold the tiebreaker edge over the Flames — so even if Calgary goes 3-0, the Blues could clinch a wild-card playoff berth with a regulation victory over Utah.

“We’re still in good shape,� Montgomery said. “We control our own destiny. After 4 Nations, if anyone said we could win the last game of the year (and) we could make the playoffs, we’d all take it.�

Parayko’s return was especially important because fellow defenseman Philip Broberg missed the game. He returned to ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ early to deal with a personal matter.

Earlier Saturday, Montgomery told reporters that Matt Kessel was likely to replace Broberg in the lineup. But Parayko, who had been practicing with the team at full speed during this three-game trip, got the green light to play.

“I felt good,� Parayko said. “I’ve been kind of building the last week. It’s been a difficult process. The last week has been good, where you turn the corner, each practice got better and better. This morning, I felt pretty good, so I was ready to go.�

He played a team-high 23:21. Parayko teamed with Cam Fowler on the top pairing and shouldered extra responsibly after Fowler was hit in the face with the puck in the third period.

For a stretch of that period, the Blues were down to five defensemen while Fowler was getting repairs. Parayko finished with 31 shifts and finished with a plus-1 rating.

He scored his 16th goal of the season by jumping into the play as he has all season at even strength.

“I just noticed that they had some guys that were trapped below our goal line,� Parayko said. “I just tried to jump up in the play and make it an odd-man rush.�

He drove the center lane and worked a give-and-go play with Robert Thomas to beat Kraken goaltender Philip Grubauer with a forehand-backhand move.

The Blues’ offensive ability on the blue line proved critical in this game. Leddy helped create the team’s first goal by firing a shot toward the net.

Nathan Walker redirected the puck, then Radek Faksa swatted in the carom to tie the game 1-1.

After Parayko tied the game 2-2, Leddy put the Blues up 3-2. He took pass from Zack Bolduc out high and hammered a slap shot past Grubauer from straight away.

“We got our swagger back in the third period,� Leddy said. “That’s how we were playing during that winning streak. We can see how effective that is.�

The Blues failed to hold that lead, then they failed to earn the second point during the overtime and the shootout.

But their goal of reaching the playoffs with their late-season push still is within reach.

“The group has done a great job over the last month and a bit, since the break,� Parayko said. “They’ve been playing extremely well, putting wins together, putting points in the bank.

“Win and we’re in, so it’s in our court. Regroup, get a couple days here, go home, regroup and put our best foot forward and give ourselves a good chance of getting in the playoffs.�