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 Tkachuk, a 16-year veteran, scored his 27th of the season, a short-handed goal into an empty net, with 1:34 remaining. He scored three goals in the final two regular-season games
-- both wins against Columbus -- to reach the milestone.
David Perron had a power-play goal and an assist, and Brad Boyes and David Backes had the other scores for the Blues.
Hannu Toivonen made 35 saves for his first win since Dec. 7 for St. Louis (33-36-13), which finished last in the Central Division and 27th in the league with 79 points. The Blues missed the postseason for the third consecutive season after qualifying 25 straight times. They started the season with a promising 22-14-5 record, but went 11-22-8 the rest of the way.
Michael Peca scored on the man-advantage for Columbus, which closed out
the season with one win in its last nine games, but had the best season in
franchise history with 80 points
The Blue Jackets (34-36-12), who entered the league in 2000, have yet to qualify for the postseason and finished 25th overall. However, general manager Scott Howson is expected to have around $20 million to spend this summer to upgrade a team that flirted with a playoff spot.
Peca staked Columbus to an early 1-0 lead. Standing beside the left post, he jammed home a cross ice pass from Rick Nash for his eighth at 4:50 of the first period on a two-man advantage to start the scoring. Columbus dominated early, taking an 8-0 shots advantage on Peca's third goal in six games.
The Blues got themselves back in the game 10 minutes later on Backes' 13th. Goalie Fredrik Norrena
-- who had only 13 saves -- made the initial stop on a deflected point shot, but Backes controlled the rebound in traffic and slotted it home.
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Boyes, acquired at last year's trade deadline, made it 2-1 at 13:08 of the second period with his 43rd, extending his career high for goals in a season. Paul Kariya rushed the puck into the Columbus zone and sent a pass off Tkachuk to Boyes, who one-timed it from the low left circle.
Perron scored on a redirection in front of defenseman Ron Hainsey for his 13th at 10:12 of the third period.
Notes: St. Louis' Jamal Mayers missed the final two games with cuts near his left eye. ... The Blue Jackets were without regulars LW Fredrik Modin, RW David Vyborny, C Dan Fritsche, C Jiri Novotny, D Dick Tarnstrom, D Ole Kristian Tollefsen, and LW Jason Chimera, whose consecutive games streak ended at 243. They had six of their minor league affiliate regulars in the lineup.
[Associated Press; By CHRIS DUNCAN]
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.
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