COLUMBUS, Ohio – Lee Stempniak had a goal and an assist in the third period, and Curtis Stanford posted his second career shutout in St. Louis’ 2-0 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday night that ended the Blues’ franchise-record, 11-game losing skid.

The game was also Sergei Fedorov’s debut in a Blue Jackets uniform. Fedorov was acquired in a trade with Anaheim on Tuesday.

Scott Young added a goal for the Blues, who hadn’t won since a 3-2 victory over Anaheim on Oct. 19.

Sanford, spelling starter Patrick Lalime, stopped 36 shots in only his 10th NHL game.

Stempniak, who scored the Blues’ only goal a week earlier in Columbus in a 3-1 loss, broke up the scoreless game with 7:47 remaining. Blue Jackets defenseman Bryan Berard’s blind pass from the blue line went to Stempniak, who was all alone coming in from the left wing on goaltender Marc Denis with Jan Hrdina trying to cut him off. Stempniak coasted in front across the crease, faked and then flipped the puck past Denis.

The unassisted goal was Stempniak’s third of the year.

Young added an insurance goal with just 3:17 left, stretching out his arm with his stick to redirect Stempniak’s centering pass.

Columbus, which has lost seven of eight, outshot the Blues 36-16 and had numerous prime scoring opportunities. The Blue Jackets were 0-for-5 on the power play, running their man-advantage drought to 21 straight.

Fedorov looked fluid while shaking off jet lag – he arrived in Columbus on Wednesday afternoon after a 151/2-hour trip – to get off three shots in the opening period.

Midway through the period, he pried the puck off the back boards and nearly wedged it past Sanford at the near post.

Later in the period, he took a pass from Adam Foote on a rush and caught the far post with the shot.

Fedorov had 15:34 of ice time, the second-highest total for any Blue Jackets forward.

Both teams had goals waved off.

St. Louis’ Dennis Wideman’s slap shot from the point eluded Denis, but former Blue Jackets center Mike Sillinger was ruled to have made contact with Denis during the shot.

The Blue Jackets’ Duvie Westcott and Mark Hartigan forced the puck past Sanford during a third-period scrum but the whistle had already blown because the net was off its moorings.

Notes: St. Louis D Eric Brewer hurt his right shoulder in the first period and didn’t return. … The Blues had also lost their last seven on the road. … The game matched the teams with the two worst records in the NHL.

AP-ES-11-16-05 2153EST

Copy the Story Link