Blackhawks end St. Louis' four-game winning streak

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Blackhawks' success is often tied to Martin Havlat's production.

Havlat had a goal and two assists Sunday and the Blackhawks snapped a five-game losing streak with a 5-1 win over the St. Louis Blues.

Nikolai Khabibulin stopped 22 shots as the Blackhawks, 0-3-2 in their previous five contests, ended St. Louis' four-game winning streak.

Havlat, playing in his 40th game, improved his totals to 24 goals and 25 assists. He missed 22 games this season due to ankle and groin injuries.

"He was spectacular again," Chicago coach Denis Savard said. "He helps everyone else and he's fun to watch. He was all over the ice."

With Havlat in the lineup, the Blackhawks are 17-18-5. When he's out, they're 6-12-4.

With the NHL trading deadline set for Tuesday, Havlat is one of a few Blackhawks not on the block. He's in the first season of a three-year contract.

Although the Blackhawks seem hopelessly out of the playoff picture, Havlat is looking forward to a strong finish.

"There still are plenty of games left in the season," he said. "We'll take it game by game."

Duncan Keith, Adrian Aucoin and Bryan Smolinski scored in the first period for Chicago as the Blackhawks converted three of their first five shots against goalie Curtis Sanford to build a 3-0 lead. Patrick Sharp added a short-handed, empty-net goal with 3:16 left.

Sanford stopped four of 11 shots before being replaced by Jason Bacashihua at the start of the third period. Bacashihua stopped all five shots he faced.

Lee Stempniak scored for the Blues.

Keith opened the scoring 6:07 in when his shot from the left point deflected off St. Louis' Ryan Johnson and past Sanford.

Aucoin made it 2-0 with a power-play goal at 8:52 of the first.

.Smolinski extended Chicago's lead to 3-0 with 6:01 left in the period by jamming in a rebound of Tuomo Ruutu's close-in shot.

"It's a big game for us and we had absolutely no reason (to come out flat)," St. Louis coach Andy Murray said. "We needed to be better in every position -- coaching, goaltending, defense and forwards."

Stempniak cut it to 3-1 with 1:38 left in the second during a 4-on-4. Just 16 seconds later, Havlat made it 4-1.

The Blues, who finished last in the NHL last season, have settled into 11th in the Western Conference. They were 12 points out of the final playoff spot entering play Sunday.

Tkachuk was dealt one day after the rebuilding Blues re-signed defenseman Eric Brewer and goalie Manny Legace to multiyear contracts.

Notes: Legace sat out due to a lower body injury and is

day-to-day. ... Chicago rookie D Cam Barker missed his second game because of a bruised left foot. Blackhawks LW Tony Salmelainen (hip pointer) missed his third game. ... Havlat's goal was his 24th in 40 games.