The Detroit Red Wings continued to build toward an NHL title defense, recording their sixth straight win Thursday by beating the Minnesota Wild 4-2.

Jiri Hudler and Kris Draper scored in a 50-second span of the second period, and goalie Chris Osgood made 21 saves for the Red Wings, who moved within a point of Western Conference leader San Jose.

Hudler gave Detroit a 2-1 lead with 9:38 left in the second period, beating Jeff Harding with a one-time shot from the bottom of the right circle for his 18th goal of the season after a give and go with Marian Hossa. Draper then scored on a slap shot from the top of the left circle with 8:48 left — also off a pass from Hossa.



Flames 2, Kings 0
In Los Angeles, Miikka Kiprusoff made 36 saves for his 30th NHL shutout as Calgary beat Los Angeles.

Michael Cammalleri scored his team-leading 29th goal on a first-period power play that stood until a late empty-netter.

Kiprusoff has four shutouts this season for the Flames, who maintained their nine-point lead atop the Northwest Division.



Panthers 5, Hurricanes 0
In Raleigh, North Carolina, Florida shut out Carolina to record a crucial two points in the Eastern Conference.

The win puts the Panthers three points above the Hurricanes in the race for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East.

Florida goalie Tomas Vokoun made 42 saves for his fourth shutout of the season and 29th of his career, while Anthony Stewart and Gregory Campbell scored just 12 seconds apart in the second period.

The Panthers scored all five goals in the first 33-1/2 minutes.


Canucks 4, Coyotes 3
In Glendale, Arizona, Henrik Sedin capped a three-goal comeback in the third period as Vancouver edged Phoenix and notched a fourth straight win.

Down 3-1 early in the third, Sedin scored on a power-play to kick start the Canucks comeback.


Senators 5, Flyers 2
In Philadelphia, Ottawa finally won a third straight game, their longest streak of the season, by downing Philadelphia.

Dany Heatley scored two goals, and Brian Elliott made 34 saves for the Senators.


Predators 4, Blues 3, SO
In Nashville, Tennessee, Jason Arnott tied the game with only 3 seconds left in regulation time, and Nashville went on to beat St. Louis in the shootout.

Steve Sullivan, playing in his 14th game of the season after nearly a two-year layoff due to a back injury, scored the only goal of the shootout with a wrist shot low to the glove side.


Lightning 6, Maple Leafs 4
In Tampa, Florida, Steven Stamkos and Vincent Lecavalier scored third-period goals to help Tampa Bay hold off Toronto.

Ryan Malone scored twice in a 54-second span in the first period to send the Lightning on its way as the hosts took a 4-1 lead before the Maple Leafs came back into the contest.