National Hockey

VANCOUVER — Bo Horvat wants to see his Vancouver Canucks string together three solid periods of hockey. The centre was frustrated after his team dropped their third contest in a row, losing 5-4 to the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night.

WASHINGTON — Alex Ovechkin scored his NHL-leading 49th goal of the season to snap a four-game drought and help Washington beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-1 on Tuesday night, increasing the Capitals' division lead.

EDMONTON — It took 34 years for the Edmonton Oilers to see two players record hat tricks in the same game again.

MONTREAL — The Montreal Canadiens are hitting their stride when it matters the most.

OTTAWA — There's no denying this has been a difficult season for Ottawa Senators goaltender Craig Anderson.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Sergei Bobrovsky picked up his second consecutive shutout as the Columbus Blue Jackets keep scrapping to get above the Eastern Division wild-card line.

WASHINGTON — Alex Ovechkin heard Capitals fans chanting, "We want 50!" after scoring his 49th goal of the season. "Next game," Ovechkin said.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Sabres have signed Casey Fitzgerald to a two-year $1.85 million entry-level contract after the defenceman completed his senior season at Boston College.

TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed head coach Jon Cooper to a multi-year contract extension, the club announced Tuesday. A native of Prince George, B.C.

TORONTO — Morgan Rielly had a good idea of what the Toronto Maple Leafs were getting in John Tavares the player. What impresses him even more — if that's possible considering the star centre's gaudy stat line — is the person.