Blues Beat Blue Jackets 5-3 as Snuggerud Scores Twice

St. Louis defeated Columbus 5-3 on Saturday as Jimmy Snuggerud scored twice to help the Blues secure a home victory. The game also featured a fight between Blue Jackets forward Mathieu Olivier and Blues forward Ross Johnston, who dropped their gloves 21 seconds into the second period with Columbus leading 2-0.

According to Markerzone, Columbus had outshot St. Louis 10-4 when Olivier and Johnston squared off at center ice. Both players held onto each other's jerseys during an extended exchange, creating one of the game's most prominent physical moments.

The fight occurred as Columbus played its first road game of the season following three consecutive home games. The Blue Jackets entered the matchup with a 2-1-0 record after beating Pittsburgh 3-2 in a shootout on Friday, while St. Louis arrived at 1-2-1 following a 3-2 loss beyond regulation to San Jose on Thursday.

Snuggerud's two-goal performance provided a significant contribution to the Blues' victory. According to RotoWire, he recorded two goals on three shots after going scoreless in his previous three games.

Through five contests, Snuggerud had accumulated three goals, one assist, 12 shots on net, six hits and a minus-1 rating, according to RotoWire. His continued presence on the Blues' top line was another notable development during an inconsistent start for the team's leading forward unit.

St. Louis had gone three consecutive games without a win before facing Columbus, making Saturday's result an opportunity to halt that run. The Blues had previously lost to San Jose in a game decided beyond regulation, according to Markerzone.

For Columbus, Olivier entered the matchup with two goals on the season, while Johnston had yet to record a point. Markerzone listed Olivier's salary cap hit at $3 million and Johnston's at $2 million, with Johnston carrying a plus-1 rating before the game.

The Blue Jackets' recent victory over Pittsburgh had followed a 3-2 shootout decision, but their trip to St. Louis ended with a two-goal defeat. The result gave the Blues a win after their three-game stretch without a victory.

Columbus is scheduled to host Florida on Tuesday, while St. Louis is set to visit Ottawa on the same night. The Blue Jackets and Blues are next scheduled to meet on March 27 in Columbus, according to Markerzone.