Tarasenko scores hat trick in Blues win vs. Lightning
ST. LOUIS -- Right winger Vladimir Tarasenko recorded the third regular-season hat trick of his career and assisted on another goal to lead the St. Louis Blues to their sixth consecutive win at home Thursday night, a 5-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Blues' improved to 9-0-2 in their last 11 home games while the Lightning suffered their fourth consecutive loss, their longest losing streak of the season. The Blues have won their last six games against Tampa Bay, which has not won in St. Louis since Dec. 18, 2009.
Defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk scored two goals and assisted on two others as the Blues scored three power-play goals. Center Alexander Steen earned assists on all three goals as he returned to the lineup for the first time since Nov. 15.
Tarasenko completed his first regular-season hat trick since Dec. 16, 2014, at 8:11 of the third period after the Lightning had pulled within 4-3 on a power-play goal by right winger Nikita Kucherov, his 12th of the season, 1:41 into the final period.
Center Cedric Paquette once again pulled the Lightning within one goal with his second goal of the game at 11:56 of the third period.
Despite the five goals, neither David Perron nor Jaden Schwartz registered a point for the Blues. Perron's point-scoring streak ended at eight games while Schwartz's streak was snapped at seven games.
Three of the Blues' goals came in the first period, their most in an opening period this season.
The first two goals went to Tarasenko, increasing his season total to 12. He scored an unassisted goal just 1:39 into the game, then added a power-play goal at 9:37 after Steen was able to keep the puck in the offensive zone on a clearing attempt by the Lightning.
After Paquette scored on a rebound for Tampa Bay at 10:39 of the first, Shattenkirk capped the period with another power-play goal at 13:17, giving the Blues three goals on just 10 shots on goal.
Shattenkirk increased the Blues' lead to 4-1 with their third power-play goal of the night 1:44 into the second period. The goal chased goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy, who was replaced by Ben Bishop after allowing the four goals on just 16 shots on goal.
Tyler Johnson cut the Blues' lead to 4-2 with his eighth goal of the year at 14:25 of the second period.
NOTES: The Lightning started Andrei Vasilevskiy in goal instead of Ben Bishop, a St. Louis native and former Blue who is 0-2-1 in his career in starts as a visitor in his hometown. ... Blues C Paul Stastny played in his 700th career game. ... C Vladislav Namestnikov was a healthy scratch for the Lightning, missing his first game of the season. ... RW Michael Bournival and RW Joel Vermin were inserted into the Lightning lineup, one day after they were recalled from the minors. ... D Anton Stralman also returned for the Lightning after missing nine games because of an upper-body injury. ... The Blues host Winnipeg on Saturday, while the Lightning return home to play Washington on Saturday.