ANAHEIM, CALIF. — If after Saturday's 5-0 victory Blues coach Andy Murray had any "coachable moments," as he often calls player's mistakes, he was being extra picky.

The Blues played as sound a game against the Anaheim Ducks as they've delivered in a long time and no doubt turned in their best performance of the young 2009-10 season. Forwards cycled the puck and took plenty of shots, defensemen cleared the zone with crisp passing and the goaltending was impeccable.

The result Saturday was the Blues' first shutout of the season, snapping a three-game losing streak that was beginning to raise concerns for a team that opened the schedule with back-to-back wins over Detroit.

Former Anaheim Duck Andy McDonald scored two goals, Patrik Berglund and Carlo Colaiacovo netted power-play goals and TJ Oshie added a fifth score in Saturday's victory. Goalie Ty Conklin, subbing for starter Chris Mason after a two-week layoff, backstopped the club with 26 saves and recorded his 11th career shutout.

"We really needed that game," McDonald said. "For whatever reason, we struggled the last few games. We haven't played anywhere close to what we're capable of. Great effort tonight ... we got rolling a little bit and showed everybody what we're capable of."

The Blues lifted their record to 3-2-1 overall and 1-0-1 on the current three-game trip. They will travel to Pittsburgh to face the defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins on Tuesday.

Saturday's first period was easily the Blues' best through six games.

Murray told the team at the morning practice to be ready to "thrive in a physical game," and the Blues heeded the advice.

In a first period that saw a combined 16 hits, the Blues opened a 1-0 lead on a power-play goal by Berglund, ending the team's 0-for-10 drought with the man-advantage. Oshie teed up a shot that hit the post and bounced directly to Berglund, who dropped a knee and leaned into a shot that went past Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller just 4 minutes, 25 seconds into the period.

Moments after the goal, Anaheim's George Parros flattened Oshie, but the Blues kept their chin up. B.J. Crombeen addressed Parros briefly and took a roughing penalty.

But after giving up a power-play goal in each of their first five games, the Blues' penalty-kill unit was in shutdown mode Saturday, killing off five Ducks' power-play attempts.

Conklin had the team's back, turning in a couple of highlight-reel saves. After a Blues' turnover, Anaheim's Ryan Getzlaf fed teammate Cory Perry in front of the net, but Conklin denied Perry, keeping it a 1-0 score after the first period.

"I knew Perry was there and I expected that pass to come across," Conklin said. "(Perry) didn't get it off as quick as he wanted to get it off. Sometimes you try to get across and make yourself as big as you can."

Colaiacovo scored on the Blues' second power play, flicking in a shot from the blue line 2:35 into the second period, opening a 2-0 advantage.

The team then chased Hiller with McDonald's first goal, giving the Blues a 3-0 lead 5:28 into the period. Defenseman Erik Johnson was facing the glass behind the Anaheim net on the play, and backhanded a centering pass in front to McDonald, who beat Hiller with a chip-in.

"I don't know if you'll believe me, but I saw the reflection of a white jersey in the glass," Johnson said. "I figured we were in white, so just kind of a lucky break."

McDonald was skeptical of Johnson's story.

"It's pretty creative to find me through the glass," McDonald said. "What's the expression ... I guess objects in the mirror are bigger than they appear. It was pretty much a great play, a no-look pass behind-the-back in the slot."

Jean-Sebastien Giguere replaced Hiller, who allowed three goals on 12 shots.

McDonald scored his second goal of the game in the third period, after receiving a terrific feed from teammate Brad Boyes. After the game, official scorers also awarded Johnson an assist on the goal, giving him three for the night and six in six games.

Oshie finished the scoring with his first of the season, knocking in a loose puck after a pass in front from Keith Tkachuk.