ST. LOUIS – Curtis Sanford stopped 34 shots for his third shutout of the season and Mike Sillinger scored for the fifth straight game, helping the St. Louis Blues end a nine-game losing streak with a 4-0 victory over Vancouver.

Vladimir Orsagh, Christian Backman and Petr Cajanek also scored for the Blues, whose last victory also came over the Canucks on Jan. 2. The slump was two games shy of a franchise-record 11-game losing streak earlier this season.

Sanford, who has four shutouts in 28 career starts, was at his best in the third period when the Canucks had a 21-5 shots advantage. Vancouver, beginning a seven-game trip, was blanked on four power plays in the final period.

The Canucks had been 7-2 since falling 4-1 at St. Louis, and had outscored the opposition 22-6 during a four-game winning streak. Backup goalie Maxime Ouellet, who got only his third start, made 19 saves.

The Blues have the worst record in the NHL but had been threatening to end the slump the last two games, both shootout losses. They’re 6-14-3 at home and 11-29-7 overall.

The Blues were held without a shot during a double-minor for high-sticking on Anson Carter midway through the first period before breaking through on their next power play. Sillinger scored his 18th goal on the deflection of Scott Young’s drive from the point at 16:24, giving him five goals and two assists in his last five games.

Orsagh’s first goal in five games with the Blues, and his first NHL goal since March 30, 2004, put St. Louis ahead 2-0 late in the second period. Orsagh, claimed off waivers from the Phoenix Coyotes earlier this month, scored from the slot on a feed from Kevin Dallman at 17:06.

Backman made it a three-goal bulge at 1:38 of the third on a break-in after his penalty for holding the stick ended. Backman deked Ouellet and scored on a backhander for his third goal of the season.

Cajanek added an empty-net goal with 40 seconds to go.

Notes: Former Blues F Aaron Downey was claimed off waivers by the Canadiens and had an assist in a 7-3 loss at Carolina. Downey and coach Mike Kitchen apparently clashed over playing time. … Sillinger left with back spasms after getting driven into the boards by Mattias Ohlund late in the second period. … The Canucks are 1-12-2 when trailing after two periods. The Blues are only 6-4-4 when leading after two.

AP-ES-01-23-06 2232EST