Blues' Halak stymies Columbus

ST. LOUIS -- A perfect power play and a shutdown penalty kill led to a victory for the injury-depleted St. Louis Blues.

Jaroslav Halak made 27 saves, the Blues broke out of a deep power-play slump with a season-high three man-advantage goals, and St. Louis turned aside all eight short-handed situations in a 4-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday.

The Blues, who entered the game in an 0-for-22 drought dating to Nov. 20, got man-advantage goals from Alex Steen, Jay McClement and Vladimir Sobotka.

"I thought we moved around well, supported each other, but the puck moved quick, too," Steen said. "We weren't hesitating. We weren't waiting to set anything up. It was just the next play was there. We gave it, we shot, rebound, got it back to the point, new shot. We kept attacking.

"In order for us to be good, that's the mindset we have to have."

David Backes had a goal and two assists, and Erik Johnson had two assists as the Blues won their second straight.