RALEIGH, N.C. - Josef Vasicek got his first hat trick and Kevin Weekes recorded his second straight shutout in Carolina's 3-0 victory against San Jose on Tuesday.
The 6-foot-4 Vasicek, nicknamed the Czech Condor, has four goals and three assists in eight games. Last year, he had 10 goals and 10 assists in an injury-riddled season.
"Hockey's a great game," he said. "It's my first one ever, and I just have to thank the guys for it."
Carolina is unbeaten in six (2-0-4), and Weekes extended his shutout streak to a career-best 165 minutes. After scoring nine goals in their first six games, the Hurricanes have scored seven in two games.
Carolina was outshot 8-0 before Jeff O'Neill's centering pass to a crowded front of the net was deflected in by Vasicek. Vasicek's other goals came during the second period, one on a power play.
There were six fights, including one with 10:20 left in which San Jose's Wayne Primeau received 32 penalty minutes, resulting in a seven-minute Carolina power play.
BLUES 1, PREDATORS 0: Brent Johnson made 26 saves for host St. Louis. Johnson, the backup, made his first start since allowing three goals on six shots and being pulled in his season debut.
Scott Mellanby, out since breaking his ribs during camp, scored on a power play with 2.3 seconds left in the first. He slipped the puck between the legs of Tomas Vokoun after a setup by Pavol Demitra from behind the net.
WILD 3, SABRES 1: Manny Fernandez stopped 32 shots for visiting Minnesota. The Wild went 2-for-4 on the power play and scored short-handed in winning for just the third time.
Wes Walz's short-handed goal with 2:36 left in the first made it 1-0, and Alexander Daigle added a power-play goal in the second when he rocketed a one-timer from the top of the right circle.
DUCKS 3, RANGERS 1: Sergei Fedorov assisted on two power-play goals and Martin Gerber made 38 saves for visiting Anaheim. Gerber has allowed five goals in four games while Jean-Sebastien Giguere has yielded 19 in six. Since opening 0-4, Anaheim is 3-1-1-1.
Soon after Stanislav Chistov was leveled by Bobby Holik, he helped set up Niclas Havelid's goal, a shot through traffic that made it 2-0 with 5:18 left in the first.
It became 3-0 9:34 into the second when Fedorov's shot from above the left circle was deflected in by Rob Niedermayer.
The Rangers lost forward Pascal Rheaume, who sprained a ligament in his left knee and is expected to miss 2-4 weeks. Rheaume tried to check Andy McDonald. But he hit him awkwardly, and his leg locked up.
CANUCKS 6, BLUE JACKETS 3: Artem Chubarov, a healthy scratch in the last game after going six games without a point, scored twice for host Vancouver.
Chubarov scored with 0.6 seconds left in the second to tie it, redirecting Markus Naslund's backhand pass. Chubarov then took a drop pass from Matt Cooke at the top of the right circle and one-timed the winner 6:18 into the third.
AVALANCHE 4, FLAMES 2: Jim Cummins scored a rare goal for host Colorado. Cummins, who hadn't scored since March 18, 2001, made it 3-1 with 7:45 left in the second after a centering pass from Charlie Stephens. It was Stephens' first point.
Martin Gelinas poked in a rebound 32 seconds into the third, his second power-play goal of the game, to make it 3-2. But Rob Blake's empty-netter with 30 seconds left sealed it.
BRUINS 2, CANADIENS 0: Felix Potvin made 23 saves for his first shutout since Dec. 10 for visiting Boston. Patrice Bergeron, the youngest player in the league at 18 years, three months and four days, scored on a power play, connected squarely with his rebound in midair. He has eight points in 10 games.
Montreal lost its third in a row and has been outscored 13-2 since winning five of six.
DEVILS 4, ISLANDERS 0: Martin Brodeur stopped 25 shots and Jay Pandolfo had a goal and an assist for visiting New Jersey. Brodeur earned his 65th shutout. His glove save stopped New York's best chance, Shawn Bates' breakaway 2:51 into the game.
BLACKHAWKS 2, COYOTES 2: Branko Radivojevic's goal rallied host Phoenix. Chris Gratton also scored for the Coyotes, who earned their third consecutive tie after starting 3-0 then losing three in a row. Down 2-1, Mike Sillinger sent a pass to Radivojevic in the high slot. He carried the puck toward the crease and put a low backhander past Jocelyn Thibault 6:43 into the third.
Kings star arrested
LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles forward Ziggy Palffy was arrested on suspicion of domestic battery after a confrontation with his girlfriend, police said. Palffy was arrested Sunday. He was released a short time later on his own recognizance, police Sgt. Steve Tobias said Tuesday.
Police said there was an altercation at Palffy's home and the woman sustained minor injuries.
AVALANCHE: The No. 33 of goalie Patrick Roy was retired, sent to the rafters next to Ray Bourque's 77 in a 20-minute ceremony before the game against Calgary.
BLUES: General manager Larry Pleau signed a two-year extension through 2005-06. Since Pleau joined the team in 1997, the Blues are 265-155-63-17.
RANGERS: Brian Leetch skated for the first time since last season but does not know when he will be able to play in a game. The former All-Star defenseman has been out since before training camp after re-injuring his left ankle when a puck hit him during an informal workout.
WILD: Forward Brent Burns was placed on the injured list with a separated right shoulder, making room for newly re-signed forward Pascal Dupuis.
