Blues lose another shootout; skid stretches to nine games

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Rick Nash's shootout goal gave the Columbus Blue Jackets a 4-3 victory over St. Louis on Friday night and stretched the Blues' losing streak to nine.

The victory improved Columbus to 4-2 in shootouts. The Blues fell to 1-4 and lost for the second consecutive night in the NHL's new tiebreaker.

Dean McAmmond and Doug Weight were stopped by Blue Jackets' goalie Marc Denis in the shootout and Columbus' Jaroslav Balastik was turned aside in his first-round attempt. When Nash came off the bench for Columbus' second try, he was greeted by a standing ovation.

Nash scored on Curtis Sanford, who took over for the injured Jason Bacashihua late in regulation.

Denis, who had 41 saves before the shootout, then stopped Mike Sillinger to clinch the win.

The Blue Jackets trailed 3-2 heading into the third period but the Blues lost for the second night in a row after leading through two.