St.  Louis,  MO (SportsNetwork.com) - David  Backes scored twice and St. Louis 
used  an early  three-goal barrage  to take  down Toronto,  6-3, at  Scottrade 
Center. 

Jaden  Schwartz  matched a  career high  with three  points on  a goal and two 
assists for the Blues, who have won three of four. 

Derek  Roy, Alex  Steen and Chris Stewart  also lit the lamp to back a 19-save 
effort from Brian Elliott. 

Nazem Kadri, Nikolai Kulemin and James van Riemsdyk tallied for the Leafs, who 
suffered their third straight defeat. 

James  Reimer started, but  was chased after giving up three goals on 15 shots 
in less than one period. Jonathan Bernier finished the contest with 18 stops. 

"It  looked like we were brain dead in a lot of areas," Maple Leafs head coach 
Randy Carlyle stated bluntly. 

All  but out of  the game and facing a four-goal deficit, the Leafs managed to 
make  things interesting late. Kulemin beat Elliott on a shot from between the 
circles  with 5 1/2  minutes to play, and Toronto pulled within 5-3 on a fluke 
chance by van Riemsdyk just over two minutes later. 

Backes  put  any comeback  hopes to  rest, as  he deposited  his second of the 
night, a bank shot off the boards, into the empty net with 30 seconds to play. 

Backes  put the  hosts on the board at  4:48 of the first with a low shot from 
the  high slot,  and Schwartz added a  tally by picking up his own rebound and 
slipping the puck home from the right side with 7:01 on the clock. 

Bernier  came on  for Reimer after Roy's  marker -- a one-timer from a Stewart 
dish -- with 3:50 to play in the period gave the hosts a 3-0 edge. 

"We  really created a number of offensive opportunities," Blues head coach Ken 
Hitchcock said. 

Stewart  made it a four-goal St. Louis margin with only 29 seconds gone in the 
second, then Kadri finally answered for the Leafs at 1:45. 

It  was 5-1 for the Blues just after the seven-minute mark of the third period 
when Steen deked a Toronto defender in the right circle and scored with a high 
wrister. 

                                   Game Notes 

St.  Louis improved  to 13-2-2 on home  ice ... The Blues have scored at least 
six  goals in one game five times this season ... Toronto has won just once in 
its last nine road contests (1-5-3).