ST. PAUL, Minn. — Jordan Kyrou showcased his scoring prowess by netting three goals, securing his fifth career hat trick as the St. Louis Blues overpowered the Minnesota Wild 5-1 on Saturday night.
Brayden Schenn contributed significantly with both a goal and an assist, while Jake Neighbours also found the net, helping St. Louis claim victory for the third time in five outings. Cam Fowler, Robert Thomas, and Pavel Buchnevich each earned a pair of assists, further bolstering the Blues’ offense. Joel Hofer was solid in goal, making 17 saves.
For Minnesota, Jake Middleton provided the lone tally, and Filip Gustavsson stood firm with 22 saves, but it was not enough to turn the tide as the Wild suffered their fourth loss in five games.
The scoring commenced with Schenn putting the Blues ahead at 4:17 in the first period. Neighbours increased the advantage midway through the second. Kyrou widened the gap to 3-0 by capitalizing on a rebound from a Schenn shot with 7:38 remaining in the second period.
Middleton responded swiftly just 25 seconds later. Hofer’s delayed clearing pass fell to Middleton, who skillfully sent the puck past the retreating goalie from the blue line, marking the Wild’s only goal.
Kyrou extended the Blues’ lead with another goal around eight minutes left in the third and sealed his hat trick with an empty-net goal with 2:20 remaining, marking his 27th goal of the season.
Takeaways:
The Blues continue to perform strongly, closing in closer on a playoff spot as they achieved a seventh win in their last ten games (7-2-1). Meanwhile, the Wild are holding onto the first wild card position in the Western Conference, despite losing seven out of their last ten encounters (3-6-1).
Key Moment:
Kyrou’s wraparound goal in the third period, which put the Blues firmly ahead at 4-1, underscored the team’s decisive effort in sealing their victory.
Key Stat:
Jordan Kyrou joined esteemed company, becoming just the third Blues player to record four or more consecutive seasons with 25 goals over the past four decades. He joins the ranks of Brett Hull (10) and Vladimir Tarasenko (5).
Up Next:
The Blues are set to host the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday, while the Wild will face off against the Los Angeles Kings on Monday.
