NHL: Carolina 5, Vancouver 3

RALEIGH, N.C., Dec. 5 (UPI) -- Erik Cole's hat trick provided the firepower for Carolina, which beat the Vancouver Canucks 5-3 for its sixth win of the year.

Ray Whitney had a goal and two assists and Sergei Samsonov also scored in support of Manny Legace, who made 33 saves.

Andrew Raycroft gave up four goals on 27 shots for the Canucks. Alex Burrows, Steve Bernier and Jannik Hansen scored the Vancouver goals.

Cole scored twice in the second period to put Carolina ahead by three goals. Vancouver staged a late rally with a pair of goals in the third period to cut Carolina's lead to 4-3, but Cole knocked in an empty-net goal with 14 seconds left in regulation to make it 5-3.