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Bobrovsky helps Columbus down St. Louis

Apr 13, 2013 - 3:22 AM Columbus, OH (Sports Network) - Sergei Bobrovsky posted 31 saves to help the Columbus Blue Jackets take a 4-1 win over the St. Louis Blues on Friday.

Columbus has now won two straight in its attempt to get into the playoffs and at 43 points, the team sits two back of the Detroit Red Wings for the final spot in the Western Conference. Detroit lost in a shootout to Chicago on Friday.

Cam Atkinson had a goal and an assist, while Marian Gaborik, Ryan Johansen and Artem Anisimov all scored for the Blue Jackets, who defeated St. Louis for the first time in four attempts this season.

"We're a team that doesn't back down and we were able to come back from an early deficit to get the win," said Atkinson. "We played a full 60 minutes and that's what you need when you're fighting for a playoff spot."

Kevin Shattenkirk scored the lone goal for the Blues, who had a six-game winning streak snapped.

St. Louis came into the game off three straight shutouts by Brian Elliott, but Jake Allen got the start on Friday and gave up all four goals on 19 shots.

The Blues hold a two-point edge over Minnesota for the sixth spot in the conference.

"I think we've lived on a fine line for a while and it went against us tonight," said St. Louis head coach Ken Hitchcock. "They were able to out-work us in the corners and the past couple of games we were able to get away with it, but not tonight."

St. Louis took a 1-0 lead just 1:26 into the game as Shattenkirk's low shot from the right point went past Bobrovsky for his fourth goal of the season.

The Blue Jackets tied the game with 5:28 to play in the opening frame when Adrian Aucoin's shot from the right point was tipped by Matt Calvert then Atkinson before going into the net. The goal was reviewed to see if the puck was hit with a high stick and it was allowed to stand.

That goal broke St. Louis' scoreless streak at 215 minutes, 56 seconds, which surpassed the previous team record of 201:32, set last season from March 21-29.

In the second period, Columbus took a 2-1 lead at the 14:20 mark as Anisimov jammed the puck in from in front for his 11th of the year.

Just over four minutes later, James Wisniewski fired a shot on net from the left point that was tipped by Nick Foligno. Allen made the stop, but the rebound sat on the doorstep and Johansen jammed it in for a 3-1 lead.

Gaborik provided a three-goal edge just 1:21 into the third period with his 12th of the season and Bobrovsky stopped all nine shots he faced in the final frame.

Game Notes

St. Louis hosts Chicago on Sunday afternoon ... Columbus plays the next six games on the road, starting in Minnesota on Saturday ... Columbus went 0-for-1 on the power play, while St. Louis was 0-for-5 ... St. Louis has not allowed a power-play goal in nine straight games, killing off 20 penalties during that run.