Blues use three power-play goals to dispose of Jackets

ST. LOUIS -- Brad Boyes' 31st goal snapped a five-game point drought, Eric Brewer had a career-best four assists and the St. Louis Blues scored a season-high three power-play goals in a 5-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday night.

Rick Nash scored his 31st goal, his fourth short-handed, for Columbus. Nash has six goals in six games against the Blues this season.

Andy McDonald netted his 100th career goal, defenseman Matt Walker scored his first in 153 career games and rookie David Perron added his 11th for the Blues, who have won three of four and tied Columbus for 11th place in the Western Conference.

St. Louis, last in the NHL with a 12.6-percent success rate on the power play, was 3-for-6 against the Blue Jackets' third-ranked penalty-kill unit.

Boyes, the Blues' first 30-goal scorer since Keith Tkachuk had 33 in 2003-04, put the Blues ahead 3-1 on a power play at 5:51 of the second period. His one-timer from the top of the left circle deflected off Leclaire's pad and then sailed over the goalie's shoulder.

McDonald broke in alone for his 12th goal, also on a power play. Perron, a first-round draft pick in the 2007 draft who had been a healthy scratch the previous two games, executed a slick give-and-go with Lee Stempniak when he tapped a deflection past Leclaire to put the Blues ahead to stay at 2-1 at 2:18 of the second.

Walker opened the scoring at 7:44 of the first on a drive from the right point that appeared to deflect off the stick of a Columbus player. Tkachuk got his 18th on the deflection of a Lee Stempniak drive on a power play with 7:40 to go.

The Blue Jackets' highlight came early. Nash was cherry-picking at the Blues' blue line and skated in alone at 15:38 of the first, throwing several moves at Legace before tapping in a forehand to tie it at 1.

Notes: Sergei Fedorov returned for Columbus after missing 13 games

with a concussion and played on the first line, totaling two shots. ... Blues D Bryce Salvador did not dress a day after leaving with back spasms from a first-period cross-check by Nashville's Jason Arnott. ... Walker has three points in 21 games this season and has one goal and 10 assists for his career.