In Columbus, Jordan Kyrou finished a hat trick with just over a minute left in regulation when he scored into an empty net as the St Louis Blues downed the Blue Jackets, 5-2 on Saturday. 
“Anytime you can put the puck in the net it’s definitely a little confidence booster,” Kyrou said.
Kyrou has 29 goals on the season, a career high.
Thomas Greiss made 37 saves in the Blues win.
St Louis moved to 29-31-5 off their third win in five games.
Brandon Saad scored at 7:19 of the first stanza for a 10 lead to the Blues.
“It was a real strange game,” Columbus coach Brad Larsen said. “… We had 11 missed shots in the first period, and five were prime scoring [opportunities] and we don’t hit the net, we don’t make him make a save, we don’t create a rebound or nothing. So some missed opportunities there and just some blown coverage.
“It stings. It kind of leaves you with a bad taste in your mouth. Bad mistakes that cost you goals. We really hurt ourselves in that game.”
Patrik Laine knotted it at 1-1 at 9:14 off the power play.
Kyrou picked up his first of the game, late in the first to give the Blues a 2-1 lead.
“We gave them too many good looks, especially early on, and they were able to capitalize, and we weren’t,” Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner said.
Sammy Blais pushed the advantage to 3-1 headed to the middle frame.
“I thought the last three games we played pretty good, and we’re kind of finding our way to get some wins,” Blais said.
Kyrou scored his second of the game in the third period to extend the lead for St Louis to 4-1.
Jenner then scored to trim the Blue Jackets deficit to 4-2.
“They (Saad, Blais) scored a couple of goals early for us, couple of good plays around the net. Good net drive,” St. Louis coach Craig Berube said. “They played a solid game, all game. In the first period, they were our best line.”
Columbus dropped to 20-38-7.
Michael Hutchinson made 19 saves, in his first start for the Blue Jackets, in the loss.
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