St. Louis came into the game on a seven-game winning streak but that came to a shuddering end as Columbus also equalled its highest ever score.
Jake Voracek scored on two breakaways to chase Columbus’ red-hot goalie Jaroslav Halak as the Blue Jackets scored early and often. They had previously been the only team in the NHL this season that had not scored more than three goals.
The rout also was a rare collapse by the Blues, who had allowed just four goals in their previous six games.
Chris Clark also had two goals and Rick Nash, R.J.
Umberger and Antoine Vermette each added a goal and an assist for Columbus.
B.J. Crombeen got St. Louis’ sole goal.
In Pittsburgh, Boston piled on five goals in the third period to cap a comeback win over Pittsburgh.
Boston entered the third period facing a 4-2 deficit, but Nathan Horton and Zdeno Chara scored 15 seconds apart to tie it, Shawn Thornton scored the go-ahead goal, Blake Wheeler added insurance and Milan Lucic put in an empty-netter.
Mark Recchi and Brad Marchand scored the earlier goals for the Bruins, who are 6-1 on the road this season.
Sidney Crosby had a goal and two assists for the Penguins, while Chris Kunitz, Aaron Asham and Brooks Orpik also scored.
In Chicago, Kyle Turris and Eric Belanger scored 35 seconds apart in the second period to lift Phoenix past Chicago.
Backup goalie Jason LaBarbera made 35 saves for Phoenix.
Previously winless this season in three appearances, he won for the fourth time in four career games against Chicago.
He faced 26 shots in the first two periods, but only 10 in the third.
Brian Bickell scored for Chicago, which has blown a home lead six times this season.
In Anaheim, the hosts notched a fifth straight win by edging New York.
Curtis McElhinney made 27 saves for his first career shutout, and Saku Koivu scored early in the third period.
The Ducks managed just 14 shots and appeared exhausted for long stretches of their fourth game in six nights, failing even to get a shot in the first 18 minutes. Yet Anaheim still managed to send the foundering Islanders to their eighth straight loss.
New York still must visit the NHL’s other two California clubs in the next three days before finally ending a brutal stretch of 12 of 15 games on the road.
In Sunrise, Florida, Toronto slumped to its seventh straight loss, beaten by Florida.
Michael Frolik had a goal and two assists, and Bryan Allen, Steven Reinprecht and Shawn Matthias also scored for the Panthers.
The Maple Leafs’ losing streak is their longest since opening last season at 0-6-1. They have lost 10 of their past 11 games and are 3 for 39 on the power play in their past 10 games.
In Newark, Buffalo won in Lindy Ruff’s 1,000th game as the Sabres’ coach, defeating New Jersey.
Derek Roy and Thomas Vanek scored shootout goals. Roy, Jason Pominville, Tyler Myers and Tyler Ennis scored in regulation for the Sabres.
The Devils are winless in seven home games this year and things went from bad to worse when $100 million free agent Ilya Kovalchuk had the puck slip off his stick and he didn’t get a shot on the Devils’ fourth and final shootout attempt.
Jason Arnott scored twice and David Clarkson and Jamie Langenbrunner added goals for New Jersey.
