Blues 5, Maple Leafs 3: Captain David Backes recorded his second career hat trick to spoil goaltender Jonathan Bernier’s return to the lineup as St. Louis capped its road trip with two straight wins.

Alexander Steen and T.J. Oshie had a goal and two assists apiece for the Blues, who won their league-best 24th road game. Ryan Miller made 22 saves for his 32nd career victory over Toronto.

Joffrey Lupul, defenseman Carl Gunnarsson and James van Riemsdyk replied for the Maple Leafs, who dropped their sixth straight contest. Bernier stopped 44 shots after missing five games with a groin injury.

Backes gave St. Louis a 2-1 lead at 19:27 of the first period when he fired a shot underneath Bernier. The captain added his second of the contest 7:32 into the middle session and capped his hat trick with an empty-net goal to seal the game.

St. Louis fired 23 shots in the first period and held a 4-1 lead after 40 minutes, but goals by Gunnarsson and van Riemsdyk with 4:06 remaining in the contest brought Toronto within a goal. Both teams finished 1-for-3 on the power play.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Backes’ first career hat trick was part of a four-goal game on April 2, 2009. … Toronto has not defeated the Blues in regulation since Feb. 6, 2007. … Maple Leafs RW David Clarkson was held off the scoresheet for his 14th consecutive game.