NHL: Carolina 5, Colorado 2

RALEIGH, N.C., Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Matt Cullen's hat trick led the Carolina Hurricanes to a 5-2 victory Sunday over the Colorado Avalanche.

Cullen scored in each period of the Hurricanes' third straight win for the first hat trick of his NHL career. Joni Pitkanen and Ryan Bayda got the other Carolina goals.

Wojtek Wolski and Darcy Tucker scored for Colorado, which had won its previous three contests.

Carolina goalie Cam Ward was credited with 17 saves and Colorado's Andrew Raycroft had 34.