Schwartz hat trick leads Blues past Blackhawks
ST. LOUIS -- Jaden Schwartz recorded his third career hat trick to lead the St. Louis Blues to a 5-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night.
Schwartz knocked in a rebound of a shot by Vladimir Tarasenko 4:46 into the game but had to leave later in the first period when he crashed head-first into the boards after a check by Richard Panik while on a short-handed breakaway.
His goal was only the second allowed by the Blackhawks in the first period this year, as they had outscored opponents 11-1 in the opening period in their first six games.
Despite the hard hit, Schwartz returned to start the second period. He took a long pass off the boards from goalie Jake Allen (22 saves) during a Chicago line change and deked goalie Corey Crawford to score his second goal at 5:59 of the period. It was the fourth assist of Allen's career.
Schwartz completed his first hat trick since April 3, 2015, with an empty-net goal with 52 seconds to play.
Tarasenko took advantage of a turnover in front of the Blackhawks' net to score his fifth goal of the season in the second period, giving St. Louis a 3-0 lead. Tarasenko has scored 13 goals in 21 career games against the Blackhawks, the most goals by any player against Chicago since the start of the 2014 season.
Kyle Brodziak scored at 7:01 of the third period to increase the lead to 4-0, the first goal scored this season by a player on ether of the Blues' third or fourth lines.
The Blues limited the Blackhawks to just eight shots on goal through the first two periods but Allen lost his bid for his first career shutout against the Blackhawks on a power-play goal by Richard Panik with 5:13 to play. A goal by Ryan Hartman with 3:53 to play cut the lead to 4-2.
The Blues have not shut out Chicago in the regular season since Jaroslav Halak earned a 3-0 win on Nov. 8, 2011.
Crawford (28 saves) had allowed only seven goals in his first five games while the Blackhawks had scored 25 in their first six games.
NOTES: The Blues activated LW Alexander Steen from injured reserve. He missed the first six games because of a broken left hand. ... Steen took the roster spot of C Wade Megan, who was placed on waivers. ... C Nick Schmaltz was back in the Blackhawks' lineup after missing four games with a head injury. ... Wednesday night's game was the teams' only meeting until March 18. ... The Blues will play in Colorado on Thursday night while the Blackhawks return home to host the Edmonton Oilers.