TAMPA, Fla., Jan. 30 (UPI) -- Martin St. Louis recorded his first career hat trick Thursday night as the Tampa Bay Lightning extended their unbeaten streak against the Carolina Hurricanes to four games with a 3-1 victory.
St. Louis completed his hat trick with 1:40 to play in the final game before he joins the Eastern Conference team for the 2003 All-Star Game in Sunrise, Fla.
Kevin Weekes, who made 28 saves, stopped Fredrik Modin's shot from the slot and Brad Richards' rebound effort, but the puck trickled into the crease and St. Louis tapped it home.
Maurice, who turned 36 on Thursday, watched his Hurricanes drop their fifth straight road game and saw a key player suffer an injury.
Left wing Erik Cole, one of the standout players during the team's Stanley Cup Finals run last season, suffered a broken left leg midway through the second period, falling awkwardly after being cross-checked by defenseman Dan Boyle.
Rookie Jeff Heerema sliced Carolina's deficit to 2-1 with 4:43 to go in the second, but the Hurricanes fell to 1-8
2 in their last 11 games.
Tampa Bay improved to 3
1 in the last four meetings between the teams.
