Hull Tricks Kings

If St. Louis right wing Brett Hull played against the Kings more often, he probably would lead the NHL in goals every season.

Hull scored three goals for his second hat trick against the Kings to lead the Blues to a 3-2 overtime victory Thursday night before 12,563 at the Kiel Center.

Hull’s goal with 1:44 remaining in overtime prevented the Kings from ending with a tie for the fourth time in their first five games. Instead of finishing their trip with four points, the Kings will go into their home opener Sunday against Ottawa with an 0-2-3 record.

“Brett Hull used his one-timer and he just beat us,” said King goaltender Stephane Fiset, who except for Hull’s goals had a solid night with 23 saves. “No, [Hull is not slowing down], he’s still one of the best. His three goals proved it again tonight. Three good shots.”

Hull, 33, could not have had a more impressive night in recording his 28th hat trick. He scored his first goal 14:23 into the first period on the Blues’ first power play. His second goal gave St. Louis a 2-1 lead 8:30 into the third period and then he ended the game with his overtime score.

All three goals were similar, thanks to the play of former King defenseman Steve Duchesne, who recorded an assist on each.

“To me, that’s the key because you never know what [Duchesne] is going to do,” Fiset said.

“He fakes like he is going to shoot at the net and then he makes the pass. Not too many guys can do it like he can. If you ever cheat to play the pass, he shoots the puck.”

In four games this season, Hull has five goals and six points, but Duchesne is also off to a strong start. Duchesne, who was traded to St. Louis during the off-season from Ottawa, has seven assists and eight points.

“In playing with [Hull], all you have to do is keep an eye on him and he’ll get open,” said Duchesne, who played five seasons with the Kings. “He’s so good. It amazes me that other players forget about him.”

After struggling while playing for former St. Louis Coach Mike Keenan last season, Hull said he feels like a new player now.

“I’ve got that old feeling back where it’s fun to come to the game,” said Hull, who scored his 500th career goal against the Kings last season and now has 532.

“Before, I used to be down every game.”

In 38 games against the Kings, Hull has 31 goals and 16 assists, which is why Robinson was so upset with his team for leaving Hull alone so often.

“I just don’t understand. . . . He’s the most dangerous guy on the ice and we let him have three point-blank shots,” Robinson said. “We had too many guys getting back late and staring at the puck. You have to know who’s on the ice.

“The guy doesn’t do a lot all night, but he ends up with three goals. He just knows where to go and what to do with it.

“He’s the type of guy that if he gets in the open and gets a chance to shoot the puck, you can be sure that it’s a great scoring chance. He doesn’t get 60 goals by fluke.”

For the fifth consecutive game, the Kings failed to score first as Hull put St. Louis ahead, 1-0, on a goal from the left circle.

The Kings then kept their pattern of responding with their own score when Yanic Perreault broke free for his first goal of the season 1:52 into the second period.

Hull’s second goal gave the lead back to the Blues, but Jozef Stumpel tied the score again with a power-play goal 15:45 into the third period.

Stumpel’s goal, his third, was significant because it came on the Kings’ second power-play opportunity of the game. St. Louis had gone the first 53:45 without a penalty.

The Kings had a great chance to win the game in overtime, but right wing Sandy Moger’s open shot from the slot sailed high and wide of St. Louis goaltender Grant Fuhr, who finished with 22 saves.

“That’s usually how it happens,” Robinson said. “You have a [missed opportunity] on one end, then the play goes down and there’s a score on the other end.”