ºüÀêÊÓƵ

For the first time this season, the Blues scored more than one goal, as Jakub Vrana and Sammy Blais scored, as Joel Hofer allowed six goals in his first start of the season. Vrana had a goal and an assist, and Hofer made 36 saves.

Nick Bjugstad (power play), Clayton Keller, Michael Carcone, Nick Schmaltz, Jason Zucker (power play) and Sean Durzi (power play) scored goals for the Coyotes, who finished a season-opening four-game road trip in ºüÀêÊÓƵ.

The Blues’ power play went 0 for 2 on Thursday night, pushing them to 0 for 9 on the season. ºüÀêÊÓƵ registered a season-high six shots on goal on the power play, five of which came during one second-period power play with the second unit on the ice.

Blais scored in the third period after Vrana cut through the defense while entering the zone, setting up Blais for a tap-in on the edge of the crease.

Arizona, which entered the third period up three goals, outshot the Blues 16-4 in the final period.

The Blues host the Penguins on Saturday night before a Western Canada road trip next week.

Arizona pulls away

The Coyotes exploded for three goals in the second period, turning a 1-0 lead into a 4-1 advantage by the end of the second period.

Hometown kid Clayton Keller continued to kill the Blues with a second-period goal that came after Alexey Toropchenko turned the puck over in the neutral zone. As the puck left the Blues’ zone, Colton Parayko jumped up in the rush, but when Toropchenko lost the puck, Keller beat Parayko back to the Blues net, and finished with a pretty backhand.

Keller entered the night with 24 points in 24 career games against the Blues.

When Keller scored, it marked the first time this season the Blues trailed by multiple goals this season. Against Dallas and Seattle, every minute of the game was played within one goal.

At 7:02 of the second period, Vrana got the Blues on the board with his first of the season. After a zone entry by Kevin Hayes, Marco Scandella kept the puck in at the right point by sweeping it to Vrana. Vrana cut to the slot and ripped a shot past Connor Ingram.

The Coyotes didn’t wait long to respond.

As the goal was being announced inside Enterprise Center, Michael Carcone got it back, taking Tyler Tucker wide and slipping a shot past Hofer. With 6:02 remaining in the second period, Nick Schmaltz converted on a Torey Krug turnover in the Blues zone to extend the lead to 4-1.

Behind again

For the third time this season, the Blues allowed the first goal of the game, this time when Nick Bjugstad scored on the power play to give Arizona a 1-0 lead. ºüÀêÊÓƵ has not had a lead yet this season, because its only win of the season came in a shootout over Seattle on Saturday night.

The Blues put the Coyotes on the power play by taking a too many men penalty, the second game in a row that ºüÀêÊÓƵ has been whistled for the bench minor. On Thursday, it was Jake Neighbours that hopped on the ice too early.

Last season, the Blues had five too many men penalties the entire season.

Bjugstad scored from the slot after the Coyotes successfully retrieved the puck three times following shot attempts. After going 4 for 4 on the penalty kill in Dallas to open the season, the Blues have allowed power-play goals in their last two games.

The Bjugstad goal highlighted a sleepy first period in which both teams’ chances were limited.

Hofer made his first big save 72 seconds into the game, pushing to his right to stop a Barrett Hayton shot. The Blues’ best chance of the period came from Nikita Alexandrov, whose wraparound attempt was saved by Ingram’s left pad.

For both Hofer and Alexandrov, Thursday night was their first appearances of the season.