Logan Couture got his first NHL hat trick and James Reimer made 23 saves to help the San Jose Sharks beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-1 Tuesday night. Joe Pavelski had a goal and an assist for San Jose, which clinched a playoff spot Monday night with a 5-2 home victory over the Los Angeles Kings. Couture scored twice in the second period and added an empty-netter in this one. The Canucks have lost nine straight. They got a goal from Chris Higgins, and Jacob Markstrom stopped 27 shots. The Sharks are third in the Pacific Division, two points back of the Anaheim Ducks and three behind LA. Wild 4, Blackhawks 1: The Minnesota Wild scored twice in the third period and continued their regular-season mastery of the Chicago Blackhawks. Paced by late goals from Jared Spurgeon and Erik Haula, the Wild won 4-1 and have swept their five games against the Blackhawks this season. Canadiens 4, Red Wings 3: Max Pacioretty's second goal of the night mid-way through the third period lifted the Montreal Canadiens to a 4-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings at the Bell Centre. Paul Byron and Sven Andrighetto also scored for Montreal. Maple Leafs 5, Panthers 2: Nazem Kadri had a hat trick, including two power-play goals with the man advantage nearly expired, as the last-place Toronto Maple Leafs surprised the Florida Panthers 5-2 at the BB&T Center. Florida suffered what could be a damaging injury when center Vincent Trocheck, trying to block a shot, took a puck off his right foot and left game after the second period. Penguins 5, Sabres 4 (SO): Kris Letang and Phil Kessel converted Pittsburgh's only two shots of the shootout and the Penguins came back from a three-goal deficit in the first period to beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-4. Letang, the Penguins' never-leave-the-ice defenseman, converted by going five-hole against goalie Chad Johnson (42 saves) after playing a career-high 35 minutes, 14 seconds. Islanders 2, Hurricanes 1 (SO): Kyle Okposo scored the only goal of the shootout as the New York Islanders helped their position in the Eastern Conference playoff race with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes at Barclays Center. Devils 2, Bruins 1: Travis Zajac and Reid Boucher scored power-play goals as the New Jersey Devils damaged the Boston Bruins' playoff hopes with a 2-1 victory at Prudential Center. Stars 5, Predators 2: Jamie Benn scored two goals, Alex Goligoski had two assists and Kari Lehtonen stopped 28 of 30 shots as the Dallas Stars defeated the Nashville Predators 5-2 at American Airlines Center. Blues 3, Avalanche 1: Troy Brouwer and Vladimir Tarasenko scored 2:58 apart in the second period to send the St. Louis Blues to their fifth consecutive win, a 3-1 victory over Colorado that dealt a major blow to the Avalanche's playoff hopes.
