Canucks take down Avalanche

Mikael Samuelsson's first NHL hat-trick helped the Vancouver Canucks to a 6-4 win over the Colorado Avalanche.

Samuelsson had helped the Canucks get into a 4-4 tie before Jannik Hansen's unusual goal - in which the puck rebounded in off his skate - was upheld by video replay to put Vancouver in front.

Daniel Seddin sealed it with an empty-net goal as Vancouver held off the challenge of their closest rival at the top of the Northwest Division.

Quickfire goals from Jarome Iginla and Rene Bourque lifted the Calgary Flames to a 4-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings.

Calgary had led through Daymond Langkow, but then fell behind as Pavel Datsuyk and Tomas Holmstrom netted for Detroit before the game turned again in the final period.

Calgary move into a tie for seventh in the Western Conference alongside the Nashville Predators, who beat the Atlanta Thrashers 2-1.

Ryan Suter got Nashville's first before Colin Wilson took advantage of a horrible error from Mark Popovic to double the lead.

Nik Antropov got one back for Atlanta, but they could not find an equaliser.

The Florida Panthers held the Minnesota Wild to just 11 shots, but still needed a shootout to win 3-2 in St Paul.

Cory Stillman got the winning goal as the Panthers completed the turnaround from a 2-0 deficit.

The Philadelphia Philles rallied from 2-0 down to beat the New York Islanders 3-2, their 15th straight victory over the Islanders.

Simon Gagne got the winner on a power-play in the third period.

Mathieu Darche scored twice while Scott Gomez added a goal and two assists as the Montreal Canadiens beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-3.

Jaroslav Halak made 28 saves for Montreal as coach Jacques Martin won his 550th career game.

Chris Kelly, Matt Cullen, Milan Michalek and Mike Fisher all scored as the Ottawa Senators snapped a three-game losing streak by beating the Edmonton Oilers.

Jakub Voracek had a goal and an assist to help the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 5-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks.

Mathieu Garon, who stepped in as goalminder ahead of Steve Mason, made 36 saves for Columbus.

Nikolai Kulemin's overtime goal lifted the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 4-3 victory over the Boston Bruins.