NHL ROUNDUP : Nieuwendyk Has Hat Trick in Flame Victory

Joe Nieuwendyk recorded a hat trick in the first period to lead the Calgary Flames to an 8-4 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday night at Calgary.

Nieuwendyk scored three of the Flames’ four goals in a wild seven-goal first period. It was the ninth career hat trick and first of the season for Nieuwendyk, who leads the Flames with 20 goals.

Joel Otto and Nieuwendyk scored power-play goals in the final 12 seconds of the first period to give Calgary a 4-3 advantage. Nieuwendyk blasted a shot from just inside the blue line past goaltender Kirk McLean with one second to play.

The victory was the third for the Flames in four games against the Canucks this season.

The Canucks have lost eight of their last 12 games to fall nine points behind the Flames in the Pacific Division.

Montreal 1, Tampa Bay 1--Goaltender Andre Racicot stopped 33 shots in place of the injured Patrick Roy, helping the Canadiens escape with a tie at Orlando, Fla.

Both teams scored in the second period. Kirk Muller scored for the Canadiens, Mikael Andersson for the Lightning.

N.Y. Islanders 4, New Jersey 1--Ron Hextall stopped 25 shots to lead the Islanders at Uniondale, N.Y.