Blue Jackets notch 3-0 victory over Blues

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Rick Nash scored a goal in his fifth straight game on a shot between his legs, and Pascal Leclaire stopped 36 shots to lead the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 3-0 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Thursday night.

Jared Boll had a goal, and Nash also assisted on Jiri Novotny's awarded goal. Novotny was skating in on an empty net late in the game when he was hooked from behind by Eric Brewer, the officials awarding the goal to Novotny -- his fourth goal in five games.

Leclaire, who came into the season with one career shutout, has three in his four home starts and four on the season. He is one shutout away from tying the team's season mark of five.

The Blue Jackets improved to 5-3-1, the best start in franchise history, while winning back-to-back games for the first time this season.

Nash's goal had to rank among the most spectacular goals in the Blue Jackets' seven years.

Ahead 1-0 and on the power play late in the second period, the Blue Jackets worked the puck around the perimeter and had several good scoring chances. Ron Hainsey then tried a slap shot from the blue line that was just wide to the right of the goal cage. Nash played the ricochet off the back boards, stretching to reach the puck to pull it in and then lifting the shot between his legs and high into the top of the net.

-- AP