Sean Walker, Andrei Svechnikov and Sebastian Aho each added a goal and an assist for the Canes (39-16-6), while Seth Jarvis contributed a pair of helpers and Brandon Bussi stopped 18 of the 22 shots he faced.
The Canucks (18-36-7) showed signs of life in the first period, taking a 2-1 lead with goals 44 seconds apart, then made it close with a late goal in the second and another midway through the third before Ehlers sealed the win with 14 seconds left on the clock.
Filip Hronek registered a goal and two assists for Vancouver, while Marco Rossi notched one of each. Brock Boeser and Nils Hoglander also scored, and Elias Pettersson had two helpers.
Kevin Lankinen allowed four goals on 22 shots before getting the hook midway through the second. He was replaced by Nikita Tolopilo, who made nine saves in relief.
The result stretched Vancouver’s losing skid to seven games (0-5-2). The team has two wins in its last 23 outings (2-17-4).
Canucks: Took advantage of an extended stretch of 5-on-3 play late in the second period to cut the deficit to 5-3. … Played without bruising winger Evander Kane, who general manager Patrik Allvin said was recovering from the flu. … Dealt veteran defenceman Tyler Myers to the Dallas Stars for a pair of future draft picks earlier in the day.
Hurricanes: Dominated from the outset, drawing a penalty in the opening minute and scoring a power-play goal 1:17 into the game. … Outshot Vancouver 12-1 over the opening nine minutes.
The Hurricanes retook the lead at the 4:19 mark of the second when Ehlers collected a stretch pass from Jordan Staal, faked a shot from the top of the circle, then skated in and fired the puck in past Tolopilo to make it 3-2.
The Canucks went 2-for-4 with the man advantage on Wednesday after going eight games without a power-play goal.
Canucks: Visit the Blackhawks in Chicago on Friday.
Hurricanes: Face the Oilers in Edmonton on Friday.
