Backes' tally lifts Blues past Blue Jackets in OT
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Columbus, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - David Backes scored just 22 seconds into overtime to lift the St. Louis Blues to a 4-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday.
Vladimir Tarasenko added a pair of goals and Chris Stewart scored for the Blues, winners in three straight. Jaroslav Halak made 30 saves in the win.
Artem Anisimov, Fedor Tyutin and Ryan Johansen each netted first period goals for the Blue Jackets, who lost for just the second time in six games. Mike McKenna made 27 saves in the setback.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Columbus was 36-0-0 when leading after two periods dating back to last season.
The Blues trailed 3-2 entering the final period, but Stewart was able to find the back of the net at 13:33 to tie the game. Brenden Morrow fired a shot from the point that bounced off McKenna, and Stewart was there to clean up the mess and tie things up.
Just moments into the bonus session, Backes swiped the puck away from a Columbus player, shook a defender, then went top shelf to beat McKenna for the game-winner.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Tarasenko opened up the scored 4:10 into the game. Tarasenko forced a turnover in the Columbus zone and flipped it over to Derek Roy, who ripped a shot from just inside the blue line off Jay Bouwmeester in front of the net. The puck ricocheted off Bouwmeester right to Tarasenko, who beat McKenna with a wrister.
Anisimov netted the equalizer at 8:49 after wristing a feed from Blake Comeau past Halak. Comeau skated in along the right side and flipped the puck back to Anisimov, who was able to pot the disc from point-blank range.
Tyutin put the Jackets up 2-1 after blasting a loose puck from the blue line through heavy traffic and into the net at 11:39, and two minutes later on the power play, Brandon Dubinsky found a streaking Johansen with a cross-ice feed, and Johansen quickly snapped it past Halak for a 3-1 edge.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Tarasenko's second goal of the game came on the power play at 8:33 of the middle session. With Morrow blocking McKenna's view, Tarasenko blasted a shot from the point to cut the Blues' deficit to 3-2.
Game Notes
Morrow had two assists ... Bouwmeester notched his 21st assist of the season ... The Blues close a brief two-game road trip in Ottawa on Monday ... Columbus hosts Winnipeg on Monday before opening up a home-and-home with the Flyers in Philadelphia on Thursday.