In Pittsburgh, Kasperi Kapanen hit for a hat trick in a 6-2 win for the Penguins over the St Louis Blues on Saturday. 
“It hasn’t been the easiest month or so, but just happy to be out there playing games and winning games,” Kapanen said. “Obviously, your confidence is going to grow.”
The Pens improved 13-8-4.
Tristan Jarry made 26 saves in the Pittsburgh win.
Pavel Buchnevich and Vladimir Tarasenko were the St Louis strikers.
“It looks like we’re going back to where we were earlier this season,” St. Louis forward Ivan Barbashev said. “Just not playing good enough. Giving up three goals in pretty much every single game in one period. It’s just the way it goes right now. We’ve got to figure something out just to be better out there.”
The Blues dropped to 11-13-0.
“We need a lot more guys to step up and play better,” St. Louis coach Craig Berube said. “We had one line going offensively tonight. [Robert] Thomas’ line created opportunities, competed hard. We definitely need more guys to step up, help the team win. We don’t have enough guys right now. We don’t have enough guys. That’s everybody. Everybody has to step up.
“Right now, we’re not good. We don’t have enough people going in the right direction right now in all areas of the game. All of them. Everybody. It’s not good enough. Until more guys step up and play better and we start pulling together as a team, it won’t change.”
Kapanen and Bryan Rust scored in the first period for a 2-0 lead to the Pens.
“Anytime you go through stretches like that, it’s in the back of your head,” Rust said. “But I’ve gone through stretches like that before and I’ve gone through stretches much worse.”
Buchnevich cut the lead to 2-+1, but Kapanen scored on the power play for a 3-1 lead.
Jason Zucker and Tarasenko traded goals in the middle frame for a 4-2 score to the Pens.
Kapanen completed his hat trick midway through the second period for the 5-2 score.
“I give [Kapanen] so much credit,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. “We’re thrilled for him. Obviously, it’s not an easy experience when you’re out of the lineup. That’s hard for every player and it’s never easy for a coach as well, having to make those types of decisions. But I think ‘Kappy’ has responded unbelievably well.”
Sidney Crosby added an empty-net strike with less than five minutes left in the game.
Jordan Binnington got the start for the Blues, he yielded four goals and made 13 saves before the getting the hook in the second period
“It’s just obviously frustrating,” Blues defenseman Colton Parayko said. “There are just things we have to get back to. Simple plays. There’s no need to be writing a book here. It’s the simple things. We know what those are.”
Thomas Greiss made 19 saves in a mop up role.
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