ST. LOUIS — Ivan Barbashev and Jake Neighbors scored 20 seconds apart in the third period to help the St. Louis Blues won their season opener, 5-2 against the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Enterprise Center on Saturday.
Barbashev made it 3-2 at 10:43, finishing with a passing play Pavel Buchnevich and Brayden Schenn on a rush, and Neighbors scored his second NHL goal on a backhand in front to make it 4-2 at 11:03.
Vladimir Tarasenko also scored twice, Buchnevich had a goal and an assist, and Jordan Binnington made 23 saves for St. Louis.
Gustav Nyquist and Sean Kuraly scored, and Elvis Merzlikins made 20 saves in his season debut for the Blue Jackets (0-3-0), who were coming off a 5-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday.
Buchnevich gave the Blues a 1-0 lead at 5:05 of the first, scoring on a one-timer from the right circle off a no-look pass. Torey Krug on a power play.
Tarasenko pushed the lead to 2-0 at 1:04 of the second when he beat Merzlikins short side after being left all alone in the right circle.
Nyquist cut it to 2-1 at 2:21 on a rebound at the top of the crease. Johnny Gaudreau had the primary assist on the play, his 400th in the NHL.
Kuraly scored 18 seconds later to tie it 2-2, shielding off Jordan Kyrou Down the left wing before shooting over Binnington’s poke check attempt.
After Barbashev and Neighbors gave St. Louis the lead back, Tarasenko scored an unassisted goal at 18:29 of the third for the 5-2 final.
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