There’s a Trick to This Oiler Loss

Sami Kapanen recorded his first career hat trick Wednesday night as the Carolina Hurricanes extended Edmonton’s season-high winless streak to seven games with a 6-4 victory over the Oilers at Edmonton.

Edmonton has lost five of nine home games this season.

Kapanen, a 1995 draft pick from Finland, gave the Hurricanes a two-goal lead only 43 seconds into the second period with a blast from the faceoff circle to the top corner of the net.

Kapanen finished off a smartly executed three-on-two break with Gary Roberts and Keith Primeau by firing a shot by a sprawling Curtis Joseph to make it 4-2. He completed his three-goal night in the final period with his team-leading 10th goal.

Vancouver 5, San Jose 2--Pavel Bure scored on a penalty shot, igniting a three-goal first period at San Jose, and the Canucks snapped their club-record 10-game losing streak.

New Jersey 3, N.Y. Rangers 2--Goaltender Mike Richter misplayed Bobby Holik’s 62-foot shot from just over the blue line in the third period, giving the Devils the victory at Madison Square Garden.

The Devils, who entered the game with the NHL’s top defense and the NHL’s top goaltender in Martin Brodeur, held on to extend their winning streak to four games. They are 10-0-0 this season when leading after the second period.

Washington 4, Pittsburgh 1--Adam Oates scored one goal and assisted on two others in a four-goal second period at Pittsburgh.

The Capitals ended a four-game road losing streak and Pittsburgh’s winless streak reached five games (0-3-2).

N.Y. Islanders 2, Florida 2--Eric Fichaud stopped 37 shots and the Islanders scored twice during a 1:26 span in the second period at Miami.

New York had a potential game-winning goal waved off with 2:25 left in regulation. Travis Green’s shot grazed the left post and was disallowed after being reviewed.

Dallas 3, Boston 3--Ted Donato scored with 41.5 seconds left after the Bruins pulled the goalie, enabling them to tie the Stars at Dallas.

With goaltender Byron Dafoe off the ice for a sixth attacker, the Bruins tied it when Donato popped a bouncing puck off defenseman Derian Hatcher and past goalie Ed Belfour.