RALEIGH, N.C. — Six minutes into Wednesday's game at Carolina, the Blues appeared to be in for another physical battle reminiscent of Saturday's game with Dallas. Brad Winchester and Cam Janssen dropped the gloves with a couple of willing Hurricanes, and the tone was set.

What ensued was something unexpected, particularly for those who have paid attention to the Blues' first periods this season. They scored three goals in the opening period, and despite being outshot 36-18 in the game, the Blues handled the Hurricanes 5-2 at RBC Center.

"They outshot us for the game, and I think it's something that we have to look into, but in the end it's the goals you get, and in the end, it's the win," Blues forward David Perron said. "It felt really good to get some goals for our team. Now we've just got to go get the win tomorrow."

The Blues improved to 3-1-1 on the road this season and hope to bring that magic home against Phoenix tonight at Scottrade Center, where they are 2-3 this season.

For the Blues, Wednesday's outcome was what the team needed after a hard-fought loss against the Stars four days earlier. But how they got there was perhaps more gratifying for a club featuring new forward combinations on a nightly basis because of injuries.

In nine previous games, the Blues had scored only five goals total in the first period. On Wednesday, they picked up tallies from Perron, Yan Stastny and Jay McClement in the opening 16 minutes, 8 seconds.

Andy McDonald scored his fourth goal of the season, matching Paul Kariya for the team lead, for a 4-1 lead in the second period and Perron added an empty-netter in the third.

Blues goaltender Chris Mason, who entered Wednesday's game with a 1.01 goals-against average in three career games against Carolina, evened his record this season at 3-3-1. Mason made 34 saves on the Hurricanes and none was more important than one on former Blue Rod Brind'Amour in the second period.

Brind'Amour took a lead pass and walked in alone on Mason, but the Blues netminder made a glove save to keep the score 3-1. What was inches away from being a one-goal lead for the Blues quickly became a three-goal lead less than a minute later when McDonald scored on an odd-man rush.

Carolina had a costly line change, allowing the Blues to break out 3 on 1 with Keith Tkachuk, David Backes and McDonald. Tkachuk delayed before sending a pass to McDonald, who himself waited before backhanding in a shot for a 4-1 Blues advantage.

"It's those pivotal times that you want to be there for the team," Mason said. "I was fortunate enough to be there. They did a great job going down ... (Tkachuk) and Andy made a great play to finish. I thought we did a great job of capitalizing on our chances tonight."

That was the story of the game, as the Blues provided themselves with a cushion after an offensive-minded first period.

On the Blues' first goal, Perron knocked in a rebound 7:32 into the first period after a strong effort by Patrik Berglund bringing the puck into the zone and firing off two shots.

With less than five minutes to play in the period, Stastny gave the Blues a 2-0 lead, scoring after a bruising hit by Cam Janssen forced a turnover. Sixteen seconds later, McClement scored on a breakaway for a 3-0 advantage after a pass from Perron went off the glove of a Carolina defenseman.

"We've had games where we've had more opportunities and haven't scored as many goals," Blues coach Andy Murray said. "We were in pretty good position on some of those goals, created some turnovers and were able to capitalize."

Perron added an assist and an empty-net goal for a three-point game; after going pointless in the first seven games, he has six points in the last three games.

"I don't know what to say," Perron said. "I've felt really good the last three games. ... I'm glad to get some goals and some points now. If I score more, we might get some more wins and that's why I like to score."

The Blues' defensive unit of Perron, McClement and B.J. Crombeen kept the Hurricanes' top line, including Eric Staal and Ray Whitney, in check. Staal was a minus-4 and Whitney was minus-2.

"That's a tough job they have every night, and obviously Mike Weaver and Roman Polak play defense with that unit, too," Murray said. "Our five-man stopper unit did a fine job."

Carolina scored both of its goals on the power play — one by Joe Corvo and one by Scott Walker, cutting its deficit to 4-2 8:12 into the third period. But the Blues killed off the last Hurricanes man-advantage on a night when they had six.