NHL | Antropov's hat trick powers Leafs

NEW YORK - Nik Antropov scored a career-high three goals, chasing Henrik Lundqvist and sending the Toronto Maple Leafs to a season-high fourth straight victory, 6-2, over the slumping New York Rangers last night.

Matt Stajan and Mats Sundin gave Toronto a 2-0 lead in the first period on only four shots. Alex Steen scored late in the third, and Vesa Toskala finished with 23 saves.

Defensemen Dan Girardi and Fedor Tyutin scored for New York on power-play goals.

Canadiens 4, Bruins 2

BOSTON - Chris Higgins had a goal and two assists to help Montreal beat Boston.

Higgins, Kyle Chipchura and Tomas Plekanec scored goals on the first six shots of the game against goalie prospect Tuuka Rask.

Mathieu Dandenault added a third-period goal for Montreal. Phil Kessel and P.J. Axelsson scored for Boston.

The Bruins earlier acquired goaltender Alex Auld from the Phoenix Coyotes for minor-league player Nate DiCasmirro, 29, and a fifth-round pick in the 2009 NHL draft.

Boston starter Tim Thomas was injured while trying to snare a deflected shot in an overtime loss to New Jersey on Wednesday.

Canucks 5, Predators 2

NASHVILLE - Daniel Sedin scored two third-period goals, and backup goalie Curtis Sanford made 26 saves as Vancouver downed Nashville.

Alex Burrows, Taylor Pyatt and Trevor Linden also scored for the Canucks, and Curtis Sanford made 26 saves. Jed Ortmeyer and Martin Erat scored for Nashville.

Lightning 2, Hurricanes 1

TAMPA, Fla. - Vincent Lecavalier scored his 19th goal of the season and Johan Holmqvist made 23 saves as Tampa Bay topped Carolina.

Penguins 3, Flames 2

CALGARY, Alberta - Kris Letang scored in a shoot-out to give Pittsburgh the win over Calgary.

Recchi sent to minors.

Former Flyer Mark Recchi, a career 510-goal scorer who was waived by the Pittsburgh Penguins this week, was assigned yesterday to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL.

It is uncertain whether Recchi must report to Wilkes-Barre.

If the Penguins recall him - which they can do without his playing for Wilkes-Barre - another NHL team can claim Recchi for half of his $1.75 million contract. The Penguins would pay the other half.

Recchi passed through waivers without being claimed this week, but another team picking him up then would have been responsible for paying the rest of his salary this season.

Penguins coach Michel Therrien said the Pens' younger players deserved more ice time than Recchi, who will turn 40 in February. "We believe we gave him an opportunity," Therrien said.