Tkachuk gets hat trick, Panthers cruise past Blues

ST. LOUIS — Matthew Tkachuk scored a hat trick and had an assist for the Florida Panthers in their eighth straight win, 5-1 against the St. Louis Blues at Enterprise Center on Tuesday.

Sam Reinhart scored for the fourth straight game, and Anthony Stolarz made 29 saves for the Panthers (26-12-2), whose winning streak is their longest since 13 straight March 29-April 23, 2022.

Brayden Schenn scored, and Joel Hofer made 26 saves for the Blues (20-18-1), who had won consecutive games.

Schenn’s first goal since Nov. 30 gave the Blues a 1-0 lead at 3:24 of the first period when he put in a rebound from the bottom of the left circle off Jake Neighbours’ shot in front.

Kevin Stenlund tied it 1-1 at 15:56 when he finished off a backhand pass from Jonah Gadjovich in the slot.

Reinhart’s 14th power-play goal of the season, a one-timer from the slot at 1:11 of the second period, gave the Panthers a 2-1 lead.

Tkachuk pushed it to 3-1 with a one-timer from the right circle at 2:18 of the third period off a give-and-go with Carter Verhaeghe.

Tkachuk’s fifth goal in four games made it 4-1 at 5:57 when he tipped in Gustav Forsling’s wrist shot from the left point.

Tkachuk completed the hat trick with an empty-net goal at 19:03 for the 5-1 final.

Linescore: Panthers @ Blues

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	T
FLA	1	1	3	5
STL	1	0	0	1

Louie Korac

+ posts

• Louie Korac

  #molongui-disabled-link

  Kyrou gets hat trick, lifts Blues past Rangers
• Louie Korac

  #molongui-disabled-link

  Canadiens, Dvorak hat trick soar past Blues