The St Louis Blues grounded the Winnipeg Jets 7-2 on Thursday, April 24 in game three of their first-round playoff series, with a team effort so dominant, Pavel Buchnevich’s hat trick didn’t even earn him the first star.

Buchnevich set the tone early at Enterprise Center by scoring his first goal just 48 seconds into the game, tipping the game’s first shot past Connor Hellebuyck. Buchnevich added his second goal just two-and-a-half minutes later on the first of eight power plays the Jets gifted the Blues. The hats would come flying five minutes into the third period, when Buchnevich took advantage of Hellebuyck being behind the net to backhand his third goal into an empty net. Goals from Cam Fowler, Jordan Kyrou, and Alexey Toropchenko contributed to an early exit for Hellebuyck, but the Blues continued to press, with Colton Parayko scoring the last goal of the contest. Winnipeg’s goals came in the third from David Gustafsson and Neal Pionk.

Fowler also recorded four assists in a marquee night, tying a franchise record for most playoff points in a game for a defensiveman. The Blues outshot the Jets 28-18 and won 58 percent of their face-offs.

The Blues now trail the top-seeded Jets 2-1 in the best-of-seven series. Game four at Enterprise Center is Sunday at noon.