A second-period hat-trick from captain Sidney Crosby led Pittsburgh Penguins to a 5-4 win over Buffalo Sabres in the NHL.

Mark Letestu had given the hosts - second in the Atlantic Division - a first-minute lead only for Derek Roy, Thomas Vanek and Tim Kennedy to put Buffalo 3-1 up.

But Crosby's treble and a Jordan Staal strike turned the game on its head and rendered Jason Pominville's power-play goal in the third stanza irrelevant.

The win took Pittsburgh within one point of divisional leaders New Jersey Devils, while Buffalo remain five clear atop the North-East Division.

Pacific Division strugglers Anaheim Ducks upset Florida Panthers - a distant second to South-East pace-setters Washington Capitals - 3-0.

Goalie Jonas Hiller shut out 33 shots to allow Ryan Getzlaf, Teemu Selanne and Corey Perry to win the game for the visitors.

Two goals from Mike Richards and a backhand finish from Claude Giroux saw Philadelphia Flyers to a 3-0 win at Calgary Flames.

In the night's other match, Edmonton Oilers saw off the visiting Carolina Hurricanes 4-2. Andrew Alberts gave Carolina the lead but Jean-Francois Jacques and Gilbert Brule put the hosts 2-1 up by the end of the first quarter. Jussi Jokinen equalised but Marc Pouliot and Sam Gagner sealed victory.