Blues 2, Blue Jackets 1
David Backes scored the game-winner and Brian Elliot made 23 saves as the St. Louis Blues kept up their strong pace under new coach Ken Hitchcock with a 2-1 victory over the host Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday.
Kris Russell added his fifth goal for the Blues, who improved to 7-1-2 under Hitchcock. The veteran coach was employed by the Columbus organization until taking over for St. Louis earlier this month.
Elliot has won six straight starts, allowing a total of six goals in that span.
Backes’ first power-play goal of the season gave the Blue their first lead at the 7:49 mark of the third. Jason Arnott controlled the puck on the left side and sent a pass to T.J. Oshie to the left of the goal. Oshie backhanded a pass to Backes, who buried it in the open net for his ninth tally.
St. Louis had tied it with 7.1 seconds left in the second period. Alex Steen brought the puck up on the left side and fired the initial shot that Curtis Sanford fended off. Russell, coming up on the weak side, grabbed the rebound and shoveled it over Sanford’s right pad.
Sanford fell to 3-1-2 since taking over as Columbus’ regular goaltender.