Recap: Fischer's First Hat Trick Keys Defeat of Blue Jackets

COLUMBUS -- Christian Fischer notched the first hat trick of his NHL career on Tuesday night to lead the Coyotes to a resounding 4-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena.
Fischer played on a line with center Derek Stepan and winger Brendan Perlini for the first time and there was instant chemistry. Stepan set up all three of Fischer's goals.

"It was weird from the puck drop," Fischer said. "The puck kind of followed our line ... I think I owe Derek a nice dinner and a bottle of wine or something ... He's really smart and he knows the ins and outs of this game. I know if I get open and create space for him he's either going to take a shot or pass the puck, whatever's the right play."

Dylan Strome also scored, and backup goalie Darcy Kuemper made 35 saves to help Arizona end a six-game losing streak vs. Columbus dating to 2014-15.
Fischer scored a goal in each period. He now leads the Coyotes with four goals in eight games.
"'Fish' worked really hard in the summer," Head Coach Rick Tocchet said. "He got his body fat down (and) he's a faster player ... We asked him to do middle drive, we asked him to slash. He does all the right things. He was rewarded tonight."
• The Coyotes fell behind, 1-0, just 31 seconds into the game when Pierre-Luc Dubois launched the puck from behind Arizona's goal off Coyotes forward Clayton Keller and into the net.
"That was just an unfortunate bounce," Kuemper said of the lone goal he allowed. "A terrible start for us, but what can you do? You've just got to stick with it. We got a big goal to answer back and make it 1-1, and then, from there, it looked like we got comfortable and got back to playing our game. The guys were battling hard and I was just trying to battle hard as well. When they're playing like that it makes it a lot easier, and I'm just trying to do my part. That was kind of our whole mind-set as a team tonight. Everyone just kind of did their job."

The Coyotes answered the fluky goal by scoring twice before the first intermission and never looked back.
Fischer netted Arizona's first goal at 7:08 of the first period when he one-timed a pass from Stepan past Columbus goalie Sergei Bobrovsky from below the left circle. Strome followed by scoring a back-handed goal from the top of the crease with two seconds left on an Arizona power play.
"The good thing about our team, we didn't like our first (period), even though we were up 2-1, which is a good sign," Tocchet said. "Then we grabbed the game back ... We adjusted after the first. I think it helped us."

• Kuemper learned he was starting the game just a few hours before it began. Antti Raanta was slated to start but opted not to play because he was suffering from flu-like symptoms. Raanta dressed for the game and served as Kuemper's backup.
"You've got to prepare for every game because you never know what's going to happen," Kuemper said. "When you find out, you just can't get too worked up about it. You've just got to go out and play and enjoy it and have fun out there. It makes it a lot easier."
Tied 1-1, Kuemper made a key save with 9:14 left in the first period when he thwarted a shorthanded breakaway shot by Josh Anderson. Strome scored the game-winning goal less than two minutes later.

• Alex Galchenyuk, who missed the first seven games of the season because of a lower-body injury, skated 15:01, took one shot on goal and was -1 in his first game with the Coyotes. He played center on the top line with Keller and Lawson Crouse.
"Coming back after injury and not having much preseason, it took me a while to get the rhythm a little bit," Galchenyuk said. "With every shift I'll take, I'll get better and better ... I tried to stay as calm as I could even though there was a lot of excitement. It's always tough to watch from the press box. You can't wait to get out there and play with the guys."

Tocchet said Galchenyuk will need time to settle into his role.
"I think Alex was fine," Tocchet said. "I think that line was struggling a little bit on certain things. They were OK, trying to get chemistry. Listen, Alex just had surgery a month ago so he'll be fine."
• Stats that jump off the Event Summary: Stepan won 15 of 22 face-offs, Perlini took four shots on goal and was +3, and the Coyotes did not take at least 30 shots on goal for the first time this season (26).