COLUMBUS — David Perron had a hat trick and an assist, but the St. Louis Blues lost to the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-4 at Nationwide Arena on Saturday.
Patrik Laine, Gustav Nyquist and Emil Bemstrom each had a goal and assist for the Blue Jackets (32-28-3), who have won four of five.
“I think we are building something really good here,” Nyquist said.
Elvis Merzlikins made 19 saves on 21 shots before leaving at 6:06 of the third period with the Blue Jackets ahead 3-2. Columbus coach Brad Larsen said Merzlikins experienced tightness.
Joonas Korpisalo made five saves for his first win since Jan. 30.
“I feel like it’s been a lifetime since I won a game,” he said. “I haven’t played much, haven’t played well. Even though I let in two goals, which is not ideal, the guys did a great job there to get the win.”
Perron extended his goal streak to six games, and Ville Husso made 22 saves for the Blues (34-18-9), who have lost three straight.
Perron has scored two of his seven NHL hat tricks this season. The other was Oct. 23 against the Los Angeles Kings.
“I’ll take it but it’s just getting back to playing the right way,” he said. “I find that it’s easy when you’re down a goal. We kind of see ourselves coming on, but why can’t we play that way when it’s tighter?
“I think not playing the right way, you don’t go too far in playoffs, and we’re getting there to that point.”
Bemstrom gave Columbus a 1-0 lead at 3:22 of the first period with a one-timer from the low slot.
“It was an outstanding start,” Larsen said. “Exactly what we want to do. Get skating, get moving. We did that in the first period. It was a great game for us.
“These guys should feel good about themselves how they are playing.”
Perron tied it 1-1 on the power play at 12:36. He took a pass from Brayden Schenn and skated between the circles to score on the backhand.
Nyquist put the Blue Jackets ahead 2-1 on the power play at 15:14 with a one-timer off Laine’s centering pass.
Laine extended the lead to 3-1 at 3:52 of the second period on a snap shot from low in the right face-off circle off a pass from Nyquist. It was Laine’s 25th goal of the season; he has scored 19 in his past 22 games.
“We are getting to know each other here,” Nyquist said of Laine and himself. “He’s a heck of a player. We just win battles, win pucks.”
Alexei Toropchenko cut it to 3-2 at 13:43 with his first NHL goal in his 11th game. He scored on the rebound of a Justin Faulk shot.
“I just went in front of the net to screen the goalie,” Toropchenko said. “[Faulk] had a great shot and I was in the right spot.”
Sean Kuraly pushed the Columbus lead to 4-2 at 6:59 of the third period, but Perron cut it to 4-3 on the power play at 8:03 with a wrist shot from the left dot.
Jakub Voracek made it 5-3 at 12:24 when he scored from the high slot through a screen.
Perron brought St. Louis within 5-4 at 18:40 with Husso pulled for the extra attacker.
NOTES: Mike Sillinger, father of Columbus forward Cole Sillinger, is the only St. Louis player in the past 25 years to have a goal streak longer than Perron’s (seven; 2005-06). Perron has scored nine goals during the streak and has scored 11 points (nine goals, two assists) during a six-game point streak. … Forward Vladimir Tarasenko, second on the Blues with 54 points (20 goals, 34 assists), did not play because of illness. In his absence, the St. Louis used a seventh defenseman, Jake Walman, who had three shots and a hit in 9:48. … Blues center Robert Thomas returned after missing two games because of illness. He was minus-1 in 21:16. … Blue Jackets forward Oliver Bjorkstrand had two assists and has scored eight points (two goals, six assists) in the past five games. … Laine has scored six points (three goals, three assists) during a four-game point streak.
