Vrbata Scores 3 as Canucks Beat Sabres to Snap 5-game Skid

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Radim Vrbata scored three goals for his sixth career hat trick to help Vancouver beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-2 Monday night, snapping the Canucks' five-game losing streak.

Brandon Prust had a goal and an assist, and Henrik Sedin also scored for Vancouver, and Ryan Miller stopped 32 shots against his former team. The Canucks won for just the fourth time in their last 17 games. Daniel Sedin and Adam Cracknell added two assists each.

Brian Gionta and Sam Reinhart scored for Buffalo, and Linus Ullmark had 26 saves.

Vancouver extended its lead to 3-1 at 4:34 of the second as Prust scored his firt of the season. Henrik Sedin tipped Alex Edler's shot past Ullmark with 2:42 remaining in the period for a three-goal advantage.

Reinhart pulled the Sabres within one early in the third, but Vrbata completed his hat trick with 5 1/2 minutes to go.