NHL: Nikolaj Ehlers' hat trick boosts Hurricanes past Canucks

Nikolaj Ehlers scored a hat trick on Wednesday, leading the Eastern Conference-leading Carolina Hurricanes to a thrilling 6-4 victory over the last-place Vancouver Canucks.

Sean Walker, Andrei Svechnikov, and Sebastian Aho each recorded a goal and an assist, while Seth Jarvis added two assists as Carolina extended its hot streak to 11-1-2.

Goalie Brandon Bussi made 18 saves for his 25th career win in just 29 NHL games, setting the record as the fastest goaltender in league history to reach that mark.

For the Canucks, Filip Hronek had a three-point night with a goal and two assists, and Marco Rossi contributed a goal and an assist. Brock Boeser and Nils Hoglander also scored, while Elias Pettersson recorded two assists.

Vancouver starter Kevin Lankinen was pulled after giving up four goals on 22 shots. Backup Nikita Tolopilo stopped nine of 10 shots but was tagged with the loss.

The Canucks led 2-1 after the first period, but Carolina responded with a four-goal second period. Walker tied the game at 2:30, and Ehlers gave the Hurricanes the lead less than two minutes later. Aho made it 4-2 with a backhand goal at 11:53, followed by Ehlers’ short-side shot 57 seconds later to make it 5-2.

Vancouver tried to rally, with Boeser scoring a power-play goal late in the second and Hoglander pulling the hosts within one in the third period. Ehlers sealed the win with an empty-net goal in the final minute, completing his seventh career hat trick.

Earlier in the first period, Svechnikov opened the scoring for Carolina with a power-play goal, but the Canucks quickly responded with goals from Rossi and Hronek.

Vancouver, last in the NHL standings, made a trade earlier in the day, sending defenseman Tyler Myers to the Dallas Stars for two draft picks.

—Field Level Media/Reuters