COLUMBUS, Ohio, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- Keith Tkachuk and defenseman Al MacInnis each had a goal and an assist and Brent Johnson made 26 saves Saturday night, leading the St. Louis Blues to a 6-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets in the opener of a home-and-home series.
Rookie Eric Boguniecki, Scott Mellanby, Martin Rucinsky and Tyson Nash also tallied as the Blues recorded their third straight win and extended their unbeaten streak to four (3
1-0).
St. Louis also snapped a five-game road winless streak (0-3-2-0) and avoided a third straight loss to Columbus.
Johnson, who missed the first 27 games of the season with a high ankle sprain, improved to 4-1-2 in his last seven decisions.
Geoff Sanderson scored the lone goal for the Blue Jackets, who have lost four in a row.
The teams meet again in St. Louis on Sunday.
