Former undisputed heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield joined the celebrations as the Carolina Hurricanes continued their NHL play-off surge.

The Hurricanes beat the St Louis Blues 5-2 to record a fourth straight victory that moved them into the three automatic play-off spots in the Metropolitan Division.

As has become custom for Carolina this season, they marked their home win with a choreographed celebration on the ice – known as the Storm Surge – with their latest effort including former boxer Holyfield.

The 56-year-old donned some boxing gloves and 'knocked out' Carolina forward Jordan Martinook as part of the routine.

Earlier, goals from Justin Williams, Justin Faulk, Sebastian Aho, Jordan Staal and Andrei Svechnikov secured Carolina victory against the Blues.

Elsewhere, deadline-day signing Kevin Hayes had three points as the Winnipeg Jets beat the Nashville Predators 5-2 to move into top spot in the Central Division.

Nashville, who went into the game as division leaders, led 2-0 but found themselves trailing 3-2 with two minutes left.

Hayes then picked up an assist for Tyler Myers' goal that made it 4-2 and, after Mattias Ekholm had pulled one back with 60 seconds left, the former New York Ranger scored his first Jets goal into an empty net to seal victory.

Pacific Division duo the San Jose Sharks and the Vegas Golden Knights both improved their play-off chances with a 4-3 success against the Colorado Avalanche and a 3-0 victory against the Anaheim Ducks respectively.

In the Eastern Conference, a Joel Armia hat-trick helped the Montreal Canadiens to a 4-2 victory against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden, which leaves the Canadian side in the first wild card position.

The Pittsburgh Penguins dropped two points behind Montreal after losing 4-3 to the Buffalo Sabres in overtime, while the Washington Capitals moved level on points with Metropolitan Division leaders the New York Islanders by beating the Long Island side 3-1.

In Friday night's other game, the Philadelphia Flyers beat the New Jersey Devils 6-3.