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Backes lifts Blues over Panthers

Nov 18, 2011 - 4:51 AM St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - David Backes scored twice and Jaroslav Halak made 20 saves as the St. Louis Blues took a 4-1 win over the Florida Panthers.

Chris Porter and Kris Russell also had a goal for the Blues, who improved to 4-0-1 under new head coach Ken Hitchcock, the best start for a new coach in team history.

"Nine points out of ten we're going to take that every time," said Backes. "Now we've just got to show that we can play on the road as well and play that simple hard game and make sure that other teams aren't getting advantage of us on the road."

Mike Santorelli scored the lone goal for the Panthers, who have lost two of three. Jose Theodore allowed three goals on 30 shots in the loss.

"You can't say our effort wasn't there, it was more so we didn't have enough poise with the puck," said Florida forward Kris Versteeg. "At times like that when you play against a team that skates around, just runs around and hits guys, you've got to have poise and not be worried about it."

Just 6:04 into the game, the Blues took the lead as Backes picked off a clearing pass near the right circle and snapped a quick shot high over Theodore.

The Panthers tied the game with less than seven minutes to play in the first as Santorelli picked up a weak clear near the left boards and skated out to the circle before wristing it home for his third of the year.

St. Louis made it a 2-1 game 5:48 into the second as Porter grabbed a puck at the low-right circle and in one motion swept it into the net.

Halfway through the third, the Blues made it a 3-1 game on a 3-on-2 break as Vladimir Sobotka skated into the Florida zone and from the inside-right circle chipped it over to the left for the easy redirect by Russell.

Backes' empty-netter with 1:50 to play sealed the win.

Game Notes

Ever goal except Russell's was unassisted...St. Louis plays in Minnesota on Saturday...Florida returns home to face Pittsburgh on Saturday...St. Louis has won the past two games against Florida.