Wings just two points behind Senators for best record

DETROIT (AP) -- Brett Hull capitalized on his chances and Curtis Joseph didn't allow the Ottawa Senators to capitalize on theirs.

Hull's 32nd career hat trick Sunday night lifted the Detroit Red Wings into first place in the Western Conference with a 6-2 victory over the East's top team, Ottawa.

The Red Wings won for the 15th time in their past 17 games. Detroit, with 96 points, moved past the Dallas Stars and to two points of the Senators for first place overall in the NHL.

''I think we started doing the things we're supposed to do,'' said Hull about the Red Wings' recent run. ''Some line combinations began to click and we started doing the little things.''

The Senators lost their second consecutive game as Joseph stopped 41 shots for the Red Wings.

''He was tremendous tonight. That's the best goaltending we've seen,'' said Ottawa's Jason Spezza. ''He robbed me a few times, he robbed Martin Havlat a few times. It was getting frustrating.''

Meanwhile, Detroit got its six goals on only 20 shots.

But Hull, who also had an assist, put in three, and Henrik Zetterberg and Brendan Shanahan each had a goal and an assist. Nicklas Lidstrom got the other goal.

''The goals we scored were tremendous shots,'' said Detroit coach Dave Lewis. ''You look at the shots at the end of the game (43-20 in favor of Ottawa) and think 'What happened?' But we won the game.''

Marian Hossa and Mike Fisher scored for Ottawa.

Detroit broke a 1-1 tie by scoring three times on four second-period shots. Hull scored two of his goals.

Hull gave the Red Wings the lead 2:30 into the second period when he took the puck away from Ottawa's Chris Phillips and beat Patrick Lalime with a wrist shot from the right circle.

The Senators tied it when Fisher put in a rebound on a power play. But Hull gave the Red Wings the lead again with a wrist shot from the bottom of the left circle through Lalime's pads.

Zetterberg's power-play goal made it 4-2. His one-timer from the inside edge of the left circle beat Lalime high on the stick side.

''I didn't make the saves. That was the difference in the game,'' said Lalime, who was pulled after giving up five goals on 13 shots. ''They didn't shoot much, they waited for their chances. and when they did, I didn't make the saves.''

Shanahan added his goal 5:02 into the third period and Hull, who has 33 goals, completed his hat trick with 44 seconds remaining.

''It's a thrill to score anytime,'' said Hull, when asked if hat tricks are still exciting to him. ''No matter where, no matter when.''

He has 712 career goals, fifth on the career list. He passed Mike Gartner with a goal Saturday.

Ottawa opened the scoring 4:10 into the game when Hossa got his 42nd goal of the season, tying him for the league lead with Vancouver's Markus Naslund. He picked up a loose puck in front of the net and backhanded it past Joseph.

Detroit tied it on Lidstrom's five-on-three power-play goal. He beat Lalime high to the glove side with a one-time slap shot from the top of the right circle.

Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman didn't play one day after appearing in a 5-3 victory over Colorado. The team doesn't want him playing in back-to-back games since he returned from offseason knee surgery. In his eight games this season, Detroit is 8-0.

Game notes
Hull was honored before the game as he received the NHL's milestone award for his recent 700th goal and 600th assist, and a gold-plated stick from the Red Wings. ... Hull and linemates Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk have combined for 71 points in the past 17 games. ... Newly acquired Detroit defenseman Mathieu Schneider and Ottawa center Bryan Smolinski spent Sunday night in the same house. Schneider, acquired from Los Angeles at the trading deadline last week, is staying in Smolinski's Birmingham, Mich., home until he finds a permanent residence. Schneider and Smolinski, also acquired at the deadline, were Los Angeles Kings teammates. ... Hossa has a five-game point streak (4-4-8) and got his 300th career point.