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NHL: Islanders snap two losing streaks

The Ottawa Senators' Dean McAmmond, front left, fights to keep the puck from the Buffalo Sabres' Thomas Vanek of Austria during the third period of their NHL match at the Scotiabank Place in Ottawa, Canada, on Tuesday. Vanek scored a hat-trick, helping his team defeat the Senators 5-1. PHOTO: AP

The New York Islanders snapped not one but two losing streaks with a 4-3 victory over the slumping Philadelphia Flyers in the NHL on Tuesday.

Trent Hunter scored a goal and set up two others for the Islanders, who hadn't won at home in the previous seven games.

New York didn't have a victory anywhere since Jan. 22, also a span of seven games.

The Islanders are tied for 12th in the Eastern Conference, four points off the last playoff qualifying place. The injury-riddled Flyers suffered their fourth straight regulation loss.

Hurricanes 3, Bruins 2

In Boston, Andrew Ladd scored twice in the first 6:33 to set Carolina on the way to victory over Boston.

The Hurricanes held on after Boston's Shawn Thornton scored twice in just 27 seconds with 4:43 to play.

Boston made a furious charge in the last four minutes, pulling its goalie but failing to get the tying goal.

The win lifted Carolina back to the top of the Southeast Division.

Lightning 3, Canadiens 2

In Tampa, Florida, Vinny Prospal scored twice, including the go-ahead goal midway through the third as Tampa Bay beat Montreal.

Prospal now has 25 goals this season, equalling his career high.

The Lightning have won four of six to remain three games off the top of the Southeast Division.

Montreal -- which was outshot 36-21 -- has lost three in a row to slip five points behind Northeast Division leaders Ottawa.

Sabres 5, Senators 1

In Ottawa, Thomas Vanek scored his first career hat trick, leading Buffalo over Ottawa.

Vanek opened the scoring in the second and added two goals in the third, including his 20th of the season.

Predators 4, Red Wings 2

In Nashville, Tennessee, Alexander Radulov scored two goals to lead Nashville past Detroit.

Martin Erat and J.P. Dumont also scored for the Predators, sending the Red Wings to their fourth straight loss. Detroit remains 21 points clear of its nearest Central Division rival.

Blues 4, Kings 2

In St. Louis, low-scoring defenseman Jay McKee got the go-ahead goal midway through the third period in St. Louis' slump-busting victory over Los Angeles.

The Blues ended a four-game losing streak but are seven points off Western Conference playoff places. The Blues have won five straight against the Kings.

The Kings wound up a 4-3-1 trip necessitated by the Grammy Awards kicking them out of the Staples Center for nearly a month.

In other NHL action it was:

* Oilers 4, Wild 2

* Ducks 2, Avalanche 1

* Flames 4, Sharks 3, OT
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