Penguins Fly away with victory

Pittsburgh Penguins improved their top spot hopes in the NHL's Atlantic Division with a 6-1 victory over Philadelphia Flyers.

Penguins center Jordan Staal took his goals tally into double figures for the season with a brace while Sidney Crosby hit his 21st of the campaign and provided two assists. Bill Guerin, Ruslan Fedotenko and Evgeni Malkin were also on target in an ill-tempered match.

Daniel Carcillo scored the Flyers' solitary goal in the first period as the Penguins extended their winning streak to three and climbed above New Jersey Devils.

Nashville Predators moved level on points with Chicago Blackhawks at the top of the Central Division as they hit five in the second period to triumph 7-4 at home to Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Florida side led after the first period as Vincent Lecavalier put them 2-1 in front on a powerplay but the Predators were rampant in the second as David Legwand, Ryan Jones, Patric Hornqvist, JP Dumont and Dan Hamhuis were on target.

Kurtis Foster and Lecavalier cut the deficit back to two before Martin Erat added the Predators' seventh.

South-East Division leaders Washington Capitals hammered North-West Division top dogs Colorado Avalanche 6-1 as Czech center Tomas Fleischmann scored twice.

Calgary Flames failed to take advantage of Colorado's woes though as they lost 4-3 at Central Division strugglers St Louis Blues, for whom TJ Oshie scored the winner.

Los Angeles Kings regained top spot in the Pacific Division with a 3-2 victory at Edmonton Oilers as defenseman Sean O'Donnell grabbed their decisive third, while Minnesota Wild came from behind to claim a 2-1 home win over Columbus Blue Jackets, who have now lost three in a row.