St. Louis Blues take 3-0 win over Jets

St. Louis Blues' Jakub Vrana (15) scores past Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, March 19, 2023, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Kasperi Kapanen, Nathan Walker and Jakub Vrana each scored to lead the St. Louis Blues to a 3-0 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday night.

Rookie goalie and Winnipeg native Joel Hofer started in his first home appearance with St. Louis and stopped 33 shots in his fourth NHL start to help the Blues win for the fourth time in six games. He didn't get the shutout because he had to leave the ice for a skate repair in the second period.

Thomas Greiss had a save while filling in. Hofer started in place of the suspended Jordan Binnington on Friday and had 33 saves in a 5-2 win against Washington -- his first NHL game since Nov. 13, 2021. Hofer, called up from Springfield of the AHL under emergency conditions Thursday after Binnington was suspended, is now 3-1-0 in the NHL.

Connor Hellebuyck, starting for the second straight day, had 14 saves for the Jets, who have lost three of their last four games.

Winnipeg fell short of completing a season sweep of the Blues after having won the teams' first three meetings by a combined 13-4 margin.

From the side of the net, Kapanen redirected a pass from Nick Leddy past Hellebuyck at 4:04 of the first period, giving St. Louis a 1-0 lead. It was his fourth goal in 10 games with the Blues.

Walker increased the lead to 2-0 with 9:26 left in the second. Justin Faulk skated in down the left wing when he made a backhanded pass to Walker, who one-timed the puck from the side of the net.

Vrana wristed in a shot on a breakaway at 12 minutes of the third period after getting a pass from Kapanen. It was his fourth goal in four games.

SERVING SUSPENSION

Binnington served the second of his two-game suspension Sunday. Binnington was suspended by the NHL's Department of Player Safety for roughing and unsportsmanlike conduct against Minnesota forward Ryan Hartman in the second period of St. Louis' 8-5 loss on Wednesday.

EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTION

Play was halted at 4:55 of the second period when Hofer lost a skate blade while in net after making a save. After trying to replace it back, Hofer was forced to go back to the locker room for the repair. Greiss came in and made one save in 2:36 before Hofter returned.