David Backes: Big night for David Backes in Blues’ triumph

And if these lines were to stay in place for a while?

Frans Nielsen, Brock Nelson and Steve Bernier also scored, and Kyle Okposo had three assists – to increase his team-leading total to 12 – as the Islanders won for the third time in four games. But even if the scoring was restricted to the first line, there was a feeling after the game that things were accomplished even if they didn’t produce goals. “It doesn’t feel better and make this trip better that we put in an effort; sometimes it’s not enough”. After Jeremy Welsh took a holding penalty after Backes scored the Jets would nearly tie it back up if not for the aggressiveness of Allen. They never trailed, and left Scottrade Center with a 4-2 win – their sixth in a row in what would eventually be a franchise record-tying winning streak of nine games.

The Blues did not take long to respond, however, as Backes took a pass from Steen and flipped a backhander past goalie Michael Hutchinson 1:32 after the Jets’ tying goal, 4:24 into the second period. Tarasenko, meanwhile, doesn’t mind playing Winnipeg. William Karlsson scored twice, Boone Jenner had a goal and two assists and Ryan Johansen had one of each.

“I thought (Backes) was energized”, Hitchcock said. After a shaky defensive game against Chicago and a general lack of scoring recently, Coach Hitch shook up all lines and pairings for the game. A typical Backes goal.

“One of the things David has been doing a lot has been working a lot, but it’s been in our zone. He had an opportunity to spend more time in the offensive zone, which is a real good sign”. While I think the Jackets are somewhere in between and am not as high on them as others they do have a nice roster and at home against a Blues team who is coming off a win against Winnipeg last night I think they are in a decent position and will have to play a complete game in order to get the victory. “If we expect to win, we’re going to have to make big plays at the right time”. “(Alexander Steen) was fantastic tonight, creating plays and making plays happen and I was the beneficiary of a few of them”. Backes was in on both of the Blues’ goals in the first period, which ended in a 2-0 lead for St. Louis. Tarasenko scored for the third straight game and had an assist, and Steen assisted on Backes’ victor. The Blue Jackets will attempt to match last season’s success against the Blues, when they outscored them 11-3 in two victories.

Tarasenko didn’t score the second goal, but he made it possible.

Byfuglien was credited with a goal when his slap shot hit the leg of Blues defenseman Jay Bouwmeester in front of the net and deflected past goalie Jake Allen 2:16 into the period. Shattenkirk heard Backes calling out “Net!”

There was very little doubt that the Jets were much better on Monday than they were during their 7-0 loss in Nashville on Saturday.

“I think we’re still trying to learn how to keep up the level of intensity for 60 minutes”, Hitchcock said. “That’s the challenge for us right now, to take a team and bury them”. We were competitive in the game. “If we’re not ready to compete, it could get ugly really quickly”.

The three-point game was the 12th of Backes’ career.