Kapanen's hat trick powers Penguins past Blues

PITTSBURGH -- Kasperi Kapanen had a hat trick for the Pittsburgh Penguins in a 6-2 win against the St. Louis Blues at PPG Paints Arena on Saturday.

It was the second NHL hat trick for Kapanen, who has scored four of his five goals this season in the past three games after he was a healthy scratch the previous seven.
"It hasn't been the easiest month or so, but just happy to be out there playing games and winning games," Kapanen said. "Obviously, your confidence is going to grow."

Bryan Rust had a goal and three assists, Jason Zucker had a goal and two assists, and Evgeni Malkin had three assists for the Penguins (13-8-4), who are 7-1-1 in their past nine games. Tristan Jarry made 26 saves.
Pavel Buchnevich and Vladimir Tarasenko scored for the Blues (11-13-0), who have lost three straight and five of their past six games.
Jordan Binnington allowed four goals on 17 shots before being replaced in the second period by Thomas Greiss, who made 19 saves.
"We need a lot more guys to step up and play better," St. Louis coach Craig Berube said. "We had one line going offensively tonight. [Robert] Thomas' line created opportunities, competed hard. We definitely need more guys to step up, help the team win. We don't have enough guys right now. We don't have enough guys. That's everybody. Everybody has to step up.
"Right now, we're not good. We don't have enough people going in the right direction right now in all areas of the game. All of them. Everybody. It's not good enough. Until more guys step up and play better and we start pulling together as a team, it won't change."
Kapanen put Pittsburgh ahead 1-0 at 6:58 of the first period when a shot from Pierre-Olivier Joseph hit his skate and deflected in off Binnington.
Rust made it 2-0 at 11:59, taking the puck away from Blues forward Brandon Saad along the wall and driving to the slot for a snap shot.
Rust had two points (one goal, one assist) in his previous 14 games.
"Anytime you go through stretches like that, it's in the back of your head," Rust said. "But I've gone through stretches like that before and I've gone through stretches much worse."

Buchnevich scored on a one-timer from the right face-off circle to cut it to 2-1 at 12:47.
Kapanen restored the two-goal lead with one second remaining on a power play at 16:55, tapping in a pass from Malkin near the right post to make it 3-1.
"It looks like we're going back to where we were earlier this season," St. Louis forward Ivan Barbashev said. "Just not playing good enough. Giving up three goals in pretty much every single game in one period. It's just the way it goes right now. We've got to figure something out just to be better out there."

Zucker extended the lead to 4-1 at 1:51 of the second period, scoring on a snap shot from the high slot.
Tarasenko cut it to 4-2 at 8:22 with a snap shot on a breakaway, but Kapanen completed the hat trick to make it 5-2 at 10:20 when he dropped to one knee and tapped in a pass from Rust on a power play.
"I give [Kapanen] so much credit," Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. "We're thrilled for him. Obviously, it's not an easy experience when you're out of the lineup. That's hard for every player and it's never easy for a coach as well, having to make those types of decisions. But I think 'Kappy' has responded unbelievably well."
Sidney Crosby scored an empty-net goal with 4:48 remaining for the 6-2 final.
"It's just obviously frustrating," Blues defenseman Colton Parayko said. "There are just things we have to get back to. Simple plays. There's no need to be writing a book here. It's the simple things. We know what those are."
NOTES:Kapanen's first NHL hat trick came on Nov. 6, 2021. … Blues forward Jordan Kyrou did not play because of an illness. … St. Louis forward William Bitten, who was recalled from Springfield of the American Hockey League earlier Saturday, had three hits in 6:18 of ice time in his NHL debut. … Jarry is 6-0-2 in his past eight starts. ... Blues forward Brayden Schenn had one shot and one hit in 17:06 of ice time in his 800th NHL game.