Vladimir Tarasenko delivered a spectacular performance for the St. Louis Blues, lighting up the ice with a hat trick as the Blues defeated the Minnesota Wild 5-2 in a tense NHL playoff clash. The Russian forward outpaced his rivals and found the net three times, helping his team seize momentum in the series and setting a clear tone for the remaining games.
Tarasenko earned first star honors for his standout display, with Blues goalie Jordan Binnington earning a spot in the top three thanks to a strong series performance. Kirill Kaprizov of Minnesota also made the list after contributing a brace, underscoring the back-and-forth nature of the contest.
Team contributions mattered across the board. Ryan O’Reilly and Brandon Saad joined the mix with key puck movements and decisive plays. Pavel Buchnevich saw 15:56 of ice time and added two assists, while Ivan Barbashev logged 12:57 and also recorded an assist. Alexey Toropchenko saw 9:22 of action, contributing to the Blues’ balanced attack.
The series score moved to 3-2 in favor of St. Louis, narrowing the path to victory for the Blues as they head into the next matchup. Game six is set for May 13 in St. Louis with local start times aligned to the U.S. audience and global viewers who tune in for live playoff action.
Tarasenko’s performance marks a milestone in his club’s Stanley Cup playoff history, as he joined a select group of Blues players to record a hat trick in a postseason game. The achievement reflects his extended impact in high-stakes moments and adds a compelling chapter to the franchise’s playoff lore.