CHICAGO (AP) — Oliver Moore and Connor Murphy scored during Chicago's four-goal second period, and the Blackhawks beat the St. Louis Blues 7-3 on Wednesday night for their fourth consecutive win.
Moore, Murphy, Louis Crevier and Landon Slaggert each had a goal and an assist as Chicago improved to 2-1-0 against St. Louis this season. Spencer Knight made 27 saves and Nick Lardis, Jason Dickinson and Andre Burakovsky also scored.
Chicago went 3 for 4 on the power play, while St. Louis was 0 for 5 with the man advantage. The Blackhawks are 8 for 8 on the penalty kill during their win streak.
Tyler Tucker, Otto Stenberg and Nathan Walker scored for St. Louis in the opener of a three-game trip. Jordan Binnington stopped 28 shots.
Chicago grabbed control in the second. Stenberg tied it at 2 with his first career goal at 8:22, but the Blackhawks regained the lead 35 seconds later on Murphy's first of the season.
Slaggert got a piece of Colton Dach's shot at 12:27, and Dickinson made it 5-2 when he redirected Crevier's shot for his fifth goal with 2:36 left in the period.
Burakovsky added a power-play goal 5:11 into the third. It was his first goal since Dec. 20 and No. 10 on the season.
Chicago improved to 5-6-1 in 12 games since Connor Bedard hurt his right shoulder during a 3-2 loss at St. Louis on Dec. 12. The 20-year-old center participated in the team's morning skate and could return as soon as Friday against Washington.
The Blackhawks observed a pregame moment of silence for Hockey Hall of Famers Glenn Hall and former coach and general manager Bob Pulford. Hall, a goaltender who helped the team win the Stanley Cup in 1961, died Wednesday at age 94. Pulford died Monday.
Both teams play again on Friday night. The Blues visit the Utah Mammoth, and the Blackhawks host the Capitals.
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Chicago Blackhawks left wing Nick Foligno, left, celebrates his game-winning goal with defenseman Connor Murphy (5) in the shootout of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
BEIRUT (AP) — Senior officials from the European Union visited Syria for the first time Friday and met with Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa in the latest sign of the country’s improving relations with the West.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the President of the European Council António Costa both made statements of support for Syria as it struggles to recover after nearly 14 years of civil war, which ended in December 2024 with the ouster of former President Bashar Assad in a lightning rebel offensive led by al-Sharaa, then the leader of an Islamist rebel group.
Al-Sharaa has launched a largely successful diplomatic offensive and has restored relations with western and Arab countries that had shunned Assad’s government because of widespread reports of human rights abuses by his security forces before and during the war.
During the visit, Costa said the EU will provide 620 million euros ($723 million) in financial support to Syria in 2026 and 2027, including humanitarian aid as well as assistance to begin with reconstruction. Aid for reconstruction was blocked by sanctions under Assad's rule, which have now been lifted.
“After decades of fear and silence, Syrians began a long journey toward hope and renewal. Europe will do everything it can to support Syria’s recovery and reconstruction,” Von der Leyen posted on X.
Since Assad’s fall, Syria has struggled economically and there have been several outbursts of sectarian violence. Al-Sharaa’s government has also struggled to consolidate control over all of Syria.
Clashes have broken out in recent days between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters in the northern city of Aleppo amid stalled negotiations for a merger between the new Syrian army and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces that controls much of the country’s northeast.
Syria's Defense Ministry announced a ceasefire Friday, though there was no public response from the SDF and it was not clear if Kurdish forces in Aleppo had agreed to the deal.
Costa said during the visit that “the violent escalations of recent days are worrisome” and called for “continued dialogue.”
“We know that the path to reconciliation and recovery remain difficult and long," he said. "Healing, rebuilding lives and creating trust in institutions takes time.
The EU delegation continued a regional tour with a visit to Lebanon, where the army on Thursday announced it had completed the first stage of a plan to remove weapons from nonstate groups, including the powerful militia Hezbollah.
Von der Leyen welcomed the announcement that the disarmament plan has been implemented in the border area south of the Litani river, adding that the EU was “ready to step up our cooperation" to support the cash-strapped military.
She called for a ceasefire deal that ended the latest Israel-Hezbollah war in November 2024 to be “fully respected by all parties.”
“Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity has to be upheld,” von der Leyen said. “And it is paramount to ensure that Hezbollah is fully disarmed.”
Israel has continued to carry out near-daily airstrikes in Lebanon since the ceasefire, which it says target Hezbollah attempts to rebuild its capabilities, and has threatened to step up the attacks if the group does not fully disarm.
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Associated Press writer Sam McNeil in Brussels contributed.
European Council President Antonio Costa, left, reads a statement next of the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
