Nikolaj Ehlers' hat trick leads Hurricanes past Canucks 6-4

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Nikolaj Ehlers sealed his seventh career hat trick with an empty-net goal and the Carolina Hurricanes held off the Vancouver Canucks for a 6-4 victory on Wednesday night.

Sean Walker, Andrei Svechnikov and Sebastian Aho each added a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes. Seth Jarvis had two assists and Brandon Bussi stopped 18 shots.

Filip Hronek had a goal and two assists for the Canucks, who have lost seven straight and have just two wins in their last 23 games (2-17-4).

Vancouver traded defenseman Tyler Myers to Dallas earlier in the day for a 2027 second-round draft pick and a 2029 fourth-rounder.

Marco Rossi scored and had an assist and Brock Boeser and Nils Hoglander added goals for the Canucks. Kevin Lankinen allowed four goals on 22 shots before getting pulled midway through the second period. He was replaced by Nikita Tolopilo, who made nine saves in relief.

The Canucks took a 2-1 lead on goals by Rossi and Hronek 44 seconds apart in the opening period.

Carolina took control with four consecutive goals in the second, with Walker, Ehlers, Aho and Ehlers again to make it 5-2.

Boeser scored with 43 seconds left in the second and Hoglander scored his first of the season to cut the Canucks' deficit to one at 5-4 6:45 into the third. But Ehlers sealed the win — and his hat trick — with 14 seconds left.

Vancouver played without forward Evander Kane, who general manager Patrik Allvin said was recovering from the flu.

Hurricanes: At the Edmonton Oilers on Friday.

Canucks: At the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Vancouver Canucks' Brock Boeser (6) celebrates his goal against the Carolina Hurricanes with his teammates during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Canucks goaltender Nikita Tolopilo (60) skates to the crease as goaltender Kevin Lankinen (32) skates to the bench after being pulled during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes in Vancouver, on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Canucks' Teddy Blueger (53) hits Carolina Hurricanes' Jalen Chatfield (5) during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Brandon Bussi (32) and Nikolaj Ehlers (27) celebrate after defeating the Vancouver Canucks during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

Carolina Hurricanes' Nikolaj Ehlers celebrates his goal against the Vancouver Canucks during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

SEATTLE (AP) — Dylan Holloway scored the go-ahead goal in the second period, Brayden Schenn had three assists and the St. Louis Blues beat the Seattle Kraken 3-2 on Wednesday night.

Robert Thomas added a goal and an assist, and defenseman Logan Mailloux also scored as the last-place Blues improved to 9-17-3 on the road with their second consecutive victory away from home against a playoff contender.

Joel Hofer made 34 saves for St. Louis, which won 3-1 on Sunday at Minnesota after going 2-8-1 in its previous 11 games.

Seattle defenseman Vince Dunn had a goal and an assist. Jaden Schwartz also scored for the Kraken, who had won five in a row at home without giving up more than two goals in any of them. Philipp Grubauer stopped 24 shots.

Seattle fell to 2-1 on its six-game homestand and 7-4-0 in its last 11 overall. The Kraken, who hold the second wild card and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, remained one point behind third-place Edmonton in the Pacific Division with a game in hand on the Oilers.

Holloway gave the Blues a 2-1 lead with his 12th goal at 7:40 of the second. The 24-year-old forward scored St. Louis' first hat trick this season and added an assist when he returned from a sprained ankle to lead the Blues over Seattle 5-1 at home in their first game back from the Olympic break last Thursday.

Thomas made it 3-1 just 1:33 into the third. Dunn trimmed Seattle's deficit to one at 13:34.

Blues: Visit the San Jose Sharks on Friday night, the third stop on a four-game trip.

Kraken: Host the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night.

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

From left, St. Louis Blues defenseman Justin Faulk, defenseman Philip Broberg, right wing Jimmy Snuggerud, and center Robert Thomas celebrate after a goal by Thomas during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Seattle Kraken, Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Maddy Grassy)

Seattle Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer reacts during an NHL hockey game against the St. Louis Blues, Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Maddy Grassy)

St. Louis Blues right wing Alexey Toropchenko skates with the puck during an NHL hockey game against the Seattle Kraken, Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Maddy Grassy)

St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas (18) faces off against Seattle Kraken center Chandler Stephenson (9) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Maddy Grassy)

St. Louis Blues left wing Dylan Holloway (81) and defenseman Cam Fowler (17) celebrate with teammates after goal by Holloway and an assist to Fowler during the second period an NHL hockey game against the Seattle Kraken, Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Maddy Grassy)