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Backes lifts Blues over Sabres

Jan 22, 2012 - 7:47 AM St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - David Backes had two goals and two assists as St. Louis continued Buffalo's road woes with a 4-2 win at Scottrade Center.

B.J. Crombeen and David Perron each scored for the Blues, who have won four straight and eight of their last nine games. Jaroslav Halak made 19 stops for the win.

"Buffalo hasn't had much success on the road, it was a scrappy win, but Halak made some key saves and we will take another two points here at home," said Backes.

Mike Weber and Tyler Myers both scored as the Sabres extended their club- record road skid to 12 games. Ryan Miller gave up three goals on 26 shots in the loss.

Weber's first of the year came off a wrist shot from the left circle with 3:47 to play in the first period.

The goal stopped a scoreless streak of 164 minutes and 38 seconds for Halak, a career-best.

St. Louis tied the game 7:45 into the second on Crombeen's wrister from the right circle, which was his first of the season, and took a 2-1 lead with 6:47 to play in the second as T.J. Oshie skated around the net from the right side to the left and from the fired a shot on net from the slot that was stopped, but Perron was there for the rebound.

The Blues made it a 3-1 game with 8:25 to play in the third on the power play when Backes jammed in the puck before Miller was able to cover up a shot he stopped.

Skating on the power play and with Miller pulled, the Sabres were able to make it a 3-2 game with one minute to play on Myers' fourth of the year, but Backes put the puck into the empty net 25 seconds later to seal the win.

"No matter how good we play it's like you're almost waiting for the other shoe to drop," Miller said about his team's recent struggles. "Sometimes you just have to clear your head and play some hockey."

Game Notes

St. Louis plays in Detroit on Monday...Buffalo continues its seven-game road trip in New Jersey on Tuesday...The Blues have won the past two against the Sabres...St. Louis went 1-for-2 on the power play while Buffalo was 1-for-3.