T.J. Oshie's first career hat trick highlighted the St. Louis Blues' latest victory, a 5-1 drubbing of the slumping Minnesota Wild at Scottrade Center.
Jaden Schwartz and Brenden Morrow also tallied for the current Western Conference leaders, who improved to 11-2-1 since acquiring goaltender Ryan Miller from Buffalo on Feb. 28.
Miller did his part as well in this one, taking a shutout bid into the final nine minutes and turning aside 27 of the 28 shots he faced.
Counterpart Darcy Kuemper wasn't as effective, coming up with just 19 saves as the Wild lost for the ninth time in 12 games. Minnesota's lead over Phoenix for the top wild-card spot in the West also shrunk to one point after the Coyotes downed New Jersey on Thursday.
Zach Parise accounted for the Wild's lone goal.
[SportsNetwork.com]
