Recap: St. Louis vs. Columbus

St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - David Backes scored the game-winning goal late in the second period as St. Louis posted a 3-1 win over Columbus at Scottrade Center.

Chris Stewart and Patrik Berglund also rippled the net for the Blues, who have won three in a row since dropping four of five.

"The best player on the ice was our captain," said Blues coach Ken Hitchcock regarding Backes. "He needed to step up with everything that's gone on here and he really stepped up."

Jake Allen snagged the victory thanks to 26 saves.

Artem Anisimov provided the lone offense for the Blue Jackets, whose three- game win streak came to an end.

"It was a tough game on the corners," said Columbus center Ryan Johansen. "It was a battle tonight. It's too bad we couldn't converge on a couple more of our chances."

Sergei Bobrovsky stopped only 16 pucks in the setback.

Anisimov tied the game, 1-1, with 1:24 left on the second-period clock, but St. Louis moved ahead for good after the ensuing faceoff.

Alex Steen controlled the puck along the boards near the Columbus blue line, skated up the right wing and dished between the circles, where Jaden Schwartz briefly touched the puck before Backes knocked it home on the backhand while sliding on the ice.

Columbus outshot St. Louis by an 8-3 margin in the final period but couldn't reduce its deficit.

The Blue Jackets skated 6-on-4 in the final moments after Blues defenseman Barret Jackman was sent off for hooking, but Berglund put the insurance marker into an empty net with one second to play.

Stewart snapped the scoreless tie on a power-play marker with 4:02 left in the second, tipping in a centering feed from Alex Pietrangelo.