Kyrou gets hat trick, Blues defeat Blue Jackets

COLUMBUS --Jordan Kyrou scored his second NHL hat trick for the St. Louis Blues in a 5-2 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on Saturday.

Kyrou has an NHL career-high 29 goals in 62 games this season, two more than he had in 74 games last season.
"Anytime you can put the puck in the net it's definitely a little confidence booster," Kyrou said.
Sammy Blais had a goal and two assists, Brandon Saad had a goal and an assist, and Brayden Schenn had two assists for the Blues (29-31-5), who have won three of their past five. Thomas Greiss made 37 saves.
"I thought the last three games we played pretty good, and we're kind of finding our way to get some wins," Blais said.

Patrik Laine scored in his fourth straight game, and Johnny Gaudreau had two assists for the Blue Jackets (20-38-7), who have been outscored 19-10 in four straight losses (0-3-1).
Michael Hutchinson made 19 saves in his first start for Columbus since being acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights on March 2.
"We came out to a slow start," Gaudreau said. "We had some good looks throughout the night, but we couldn't capitalize."
Saad gave St. Louis a 1-0 lead at 7:19 of the first period. The rebound of a shot by Blais went off the skate of Saad, who pushed the puck across the goal line at the left post.
"We gave them too many good looks, especially early on, and they were able to capitalize, and we weren't," Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner said.

Laine tied it 1-1 at 9:14 on a power play, scoring on a one-timer from the left face-off circle off a cross-ice pass by Gaudreau.
"I saw a quick lane through the middle," Gaudreau said. "He's obviously got a great shot, so we try to find him as much as we can, and he put it in the back of the net."
Kyrou responded for the Blues to make it 2-1 at 13:38, crashing the net and redirecting a centering pass by Robert Thomas.
"It was a real strange game," Columbus coach Brad Larsen said. "… We had 11 missed shots in the first period, and five were prime scoring [opportunities] and we don't hit the net, we don't make him make a save, we don't create a rebound or nothing. So some missed opportunities there and just some blown coverage.
"It stings. It kind of leaves you with a bad taste in your mouth. Bad mistakes that cost you goals. We really hurt ourselves in that game."
Blais extended it to 3-1 at 18:07 with a one-timer from the bottom of the right circle after receiving a touch pass from Saad.
Blais has four goals in 14 games since being reacquired from the New York Rangers on Feb. 9. He did not score in 54 games over two seasons with the Rangers.
"It feels good (to get three points in the first period), for sure," Blais said. "But the most important thing is to get the win in the end. So, I'm just happy I'm playing with two good players (Saad and Schenn). They're making it easier for me."

The line of Blais, Saad and Schenn combined for seven points (two goals, five assists).
"They scored a couple of goals early for us, couple of good plays around the net. Good net drive," St. Louis coach Craig Berube said. "They played a solid game, all game. In the first period, they were our best line."
Kyrou made it 4-1 at 12:15 of the third period when he picked up a loose puck in the slot.
Jenner tipped in a shot by Kent Johnson during a 6-on-5 to make it 4-2 at 15:55 before Kyrou completed the hat trick with an empty-net goal at 18:43 for the 5-2 final.
NOTES: Hutchinson made his first NHL start since Oct. 22, 2021, as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs. … Columbus goalie Daniil Tarasov served as the backup. He was recalled on an emergency basis from Cleveland of the American Hockey League on Friday after Elvis Merzlikins returned to Latvia to be with his seriously ill grandmother.. … St. Louis forward Pavel Buchnevich had an assist to extend his point streak to eight games (four goals, 10 assists). … Thomas extended his point streak to four games (two goals, four assists). … Laine has six points (four goals, two assists) during a five-game point streak.