Blues batter Buffalo

In Buffalo, the St Louis Blues’ Vladimir Tarasenko hit for a hat trick on Thursday night in a 6-2 win over the Sabres.

Jordan Binnington made 34 saves. in the Blues win.

Rasmus Asplund and Alex Tuch scored for the Sabres to keep the game close at 2-2 before the Blues reeled off four straight strikes.

“Obviously when you get rewarded with a tip like today, it feels great,” Asplund said. “I’ve been putting in a lot of work the whole year and getting rewarded is obviously the best feeling you can get for it.”

St Louis’ Robert Thomas recorded five assists in the win.

“It’s pretty cool,” Thomas said. “I think the most important thing is just getting the team in shape for the playoffs. They’re coming right around the corner. Every win means so much, especially when home ice is on the line.”

St Louis was 2-for-3 on the power play, including one strike off a 5-on-3.

Buffalo dropped to 27-38-11.

“I was real happy with our guys’ effort,” Buffalo coach Don Granato said. “I was happy with our guys’ execution for the most part to create chances. And it’s one of those games that you lose and you actually feel bad for your guys. They were dialed in and they put forth a great effort. And you’re disappointed that they didn’t get rewarded more for the effort and some of the execution. It happens. That’s life sometimes. In the end, you walk in the locker room and you know you have a group of guys that are just [ticked] off they didn’t win, and that feels good as a coach. They don’t feel like they’re overwhelmed. They just feel like they can take charge and I like that.”

David Peron and Brandon Saad added single marker for St Louis.

The Blues improved to 44-20-10.

The Blues have won seven straight.

“Any time you get a power play in a game where you’re struggling and they’re really taking it to you, I think the power play can really change the momentum and spark it,” Thomas said. “So obviously a great shot by ‘DP’ and ‘Saader’ there. That was huge for us.”

Pavel Buchnevich  and Tarasenko (empty net)  scored in the third period.

Craig Anderson made 20 saves in the Sabres loss.