Panthers Streak By Blues On Tkachuk Hat Trick

     Matthew Tkachuk picked up his fifth career hat trick in his hometown as the Florida Panthers disposed of the St. Louis Blues 5-1 at Enterprise Center on Tuesday night. The Panthers extended their winning streak to eight games and finished up a four-game road swing with a perfect 4-0-0 record against Western Conference foes. 

     The Cats do not have a great all-time record in St. Louis. The last time they won a contest there was their final game before the COVID-19 pandemic stopped the National Hockey League in March 2020. 

     St. Louis(20-18-1) flew out to a 1-0 lead at 3:24 of the first period. Jake Neighbours released a backhand shot from the low slot which was saved by Anthony Stolarz. Brayden Schenn followed with a forehand shot from the crease area for his ninth goal of the campaign. 

     Florida(26-12-2) tied it 1-1 with 4:04 left in the first. Kevin Stenlund scored on a wrist shot for his eighth tally this season on assists from Jonah Gadjovich and William Lockwood.

     In the second period, the Panthers got a power-play goal at the 1:11 mark. Sam Reinhart collected his 29th goal of the season and his sixth goal in the last four games. Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov were credited with assists on the play. 

     It became 3-1 for the Cats at 2:18 of the third period. Tkachuk got his ninth goal in 2023-24 as he snapped a shot from close range off a fed from Carter Verhaeghe. 

     The Panthers expanded it to a three-goal margin at the 5:57 mark of the frame. Anton Lundell backhanded a pass from the left corner. Gustav Forsling took a shot from the left point and Tkachuk redirected it from the slot area for his second tally of the game. 

     Tkachuk capped the contest on the natural hat trick with 56.7 seconds left in the third. He flipped a shot high in the air from inside his own blue line and picked up his 11th goal of the season. Tkachuk now has six goals in the past six games.