St. Louis, MO (SportsNetwork.com) - David Backes scored twice, including the game-winner with 6:51 left in the third period, as the St. Louis Blues secured a 3-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets on Monday at Scottrade Center.
Backes broke a 1-1 tie with a power-play goal at 13:09 of the third before being credited with an empty-netter at 18:49 to help St. Louis become the first team to cross the 100-point plateau in the NHL this season.
Brenden Morrow scored St. Louis' other goal, while Ryan Miller made 16 saves to improve to 7-0-1 since being acquired on Feb. 28 by the Blues, who have won three straight and eight of their last nine games.
St. Louis has also earned points in 22 consecutive divisions games (20-0-2), extending a franchise record.
Eric O'Dell potted Winnipeg's lone goal, while Al Montoya allowed two goals on 25 shots for the Jets, who have lost seven of their last eight games.
With the game tied 1-1 just past the midpoint of the third, Winnipeg's Evander Kane was sent off for slashing to put the Blues on the power play.
"We just can't be in the box there," Winnipeg head coach Paul Maurice said of Kane's penalty, which occurred in the offensive zone. "That's the bottom line on that play."
Late in the ensuing man-advantage, Ian Cole rifled a one-timer from atop the right circle that was blocked by a defender, but the puck ricocheted into the slot and Backes pounded it into the back of the net for a 2-1 lead at 13:09.
After Montoya left the net in favor of the extra attacker with just over a minute left, Backes got behind the defense and had only an empty net in front of him when he was taken down from behind by Winnipeg's Jacob Trouba.
The referees awarded Backes with an empty-netter to account for the final margin.
Just after the final horn sounded, a brawl broke out between all five skaters on both teams and the players had to be separated by the referees as they skated toward their respective locker rooms.
"It was just a good battle," St. Louis' Steve Ott said of the scrum at the end of the game. "That's going to happen from time to time in this league but it's good that everyone to a man did their job."
Following a scoreless first period, Morrow got the Blues on the board 1:44 into the second when he ripped a one-timer past Montoya from the slot off a Derek Roy feed.
However, O'Dell answered 1:55 into the third with the teams skating 4-on-4. Kane carried the disc down the left side and into the St. Louis zone before dishing to the slot for O'Dell, who deked past Miller before stuffing the puck in with a backhand to tie the game.
Game Notes
St. Louis reached 100-plus points for the sixth time in franchise history and the second time in the past three seasons ... St. Louis has won four straight against the Jets ... Jay Bouwmeester recorded two assists for the Blues ... Winnipeg went 0-for-1 on the power play.
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