E-Mail
Print
Eric Staal had a hat trick and Jeff Skinner added two more and the Carolina Hurricanes handed the Sabres their first loss of the season on Thursday, 6-3. Jason Pominville scored twice for Buffalo.
The second period saw a flurry of activity following a scoreless first. Goals by Skinner and Justin Faulk got the Hurricanes out to a 2-0 lead, but Buffalo battled right back to tie it 2-2. Cody Hodgson poked a rebound into an open net at 8:50 of the second. Just 1:49 later, Pominville deflected a big shot by Christian Ehrhoff past Cam Ward and into the Carolina net. It didn't take long for the 'Canes to respond. Skinner wrapped around the Buffalo net and tucked a shot under Enroth's pad for his second goal of the evening. Nine seconds later, Staal beat Enroth for his first of the year to give the Hurricanes a 4-2 lead after 40 minutes.
Pominville pulled the Sabres within a goal with his second of the game early in the final frame, finishing off a beautiful blind give-and-go with Thomas Vanek, but Carolina regained its two-goal lead on Staal's second of the evening about 3:30 later. Staal added an empty-netter in the game's final minutes for the hat trick, making it a 6-3 final.
Buffalo and Carolina will meet up once again on Friday night, this time from First Niagara Center at 7 p.m. Hear the call on WGR SportsRadio 550 and the Buffalo Sabres Radio Network.
1st Period
Goals
None
Penalties
1:07 - CAR - Jeff Skinner (2 min., tripping)
4:03 - BUF - Alexander Sulzer (2 min., holding)
9:23 - CAR - Drayson Bowman (2 min., boarding)
14:13 - BUF - Tyler Myers (2 min., holding)
16:14 - CAR - Eric Staal (2 min., interference)
2nd Period
Goals
1:02 - CAR - Jeff Skinner (2) (Jordan Staal, Zac Dalpe)
4:06 - CAR - Justin Faulk (SHG) (1) (Jordan Staal)
8:50 - BUF - Cody Hodgson (3) (Jordan Leopold, Thomas Vanek)
The second period saw a flurry of activity following a scoreless first. Goals by Skinner and Justin Faulk got the Hurricanes out to a 2-0 lead, but Buffalo battled right back to tie it 2-2. Cody Hodgson poked a rebound into an open net at 8:50 of the second. Just 1:49 later, Pominville deflected a big shot by Christian Ehrhoff past Cam Ward and into the Carolina net. It didn't take long for the 'Canes to respond. Skinner wrapped around the Buffalo net and tucked a shot under Enroth's pad for his second goal of the evening. Nine seconds later, Staal beat Enroth for his first of the year to give the Hurricanes a 4-2 lead after 40 minutes.
Pominville pulled the Sabres within a goal with his second of the game early in the final frame, finishing off a beautiful blind give-and-go with Thomas Vanek, but Carolina regained its two-goal lead on Staal's second of the evening about 3:30 later. Staal added an empty-netter in the game's final minutes for the hat trick, making it a 6-3 final.
Buffalo and Carolina will meet up once again on Friday night, this time from First Niagara Center at 7 p.m. Hear the call on WGR SportsRadio 550 and the Buffalo Sabres Radio Network.
1st Period
Goals
None
Penalties
1:07 - CAR - Jeff Skinner (2 min., tripping)
4:03 - BUF - Alexander Sulzer (2 min., holding)
9:23 - CAR - Drayson Bowman (2 min., boarding)
14:13 - BUF - Tyler Myers (2 min., holding)
16:14 - CAR - Eric Staal (2 min., interference)
2nd Period
Goals
1:02 - CAR - Jeff Skinner (2) (Jordan Staal, Zac Dalpe)
4:06 - CAR - Justin Faulk (SHG) (1) (Jordan Staal)
8:50 - BUF - Cody Hodgson (3) (Jordan Leopold, Thomas Vanek)
10:39 - BUF - Jason Pominville (2) (Christian Ehrhoff, Alexander Sulzer)
13:56 - CAR - Jeff Skinner (3) (Unassisted)
14:05 - CAR - Eric Staal (1) (Jamie McBain, Joni Pitkanen)
13:56 - CAR - Jeff Skinner (3) (Unassisted)
14:05 - CAR - Eric Staal (1) (Jamie McBain, Joni Pitkanen)
Penalties
3:07- CAR - Patrick Dwyer (2 min., interference)
4:49 - BUF - Tyler Myers (2 min., interference)
18:43 - CAR - Chad LaRose (2 min., slashing)
3rd Period
Goals
6:06 - BUF - Jason Pominville (3) (Thomas Vanek, Robyn Regehr)
9:26 - CAR - Eric Staal (2) (Joni Pitkanen)
18:32 - CAR - Eric Staal (EN) (3) (Zac Dalpe)
Penalties
10:33 - BUF - Alexander Sulzer (2 min., roughing)
12:44 - CAR - Jordan Staal (2 min., hooking)
Goaltending
BUF - Jhonas Enroth (32 saves, 37 shots)
CAR - Cam Ward (30 saves, 33 shots)
Power Plays
BUF - 0 of 6
CAR - 0 of 4
Three Stars
1.) Eric Staal (3 G, 0 A)
2.) Jeff Skinner (2 G, 0 A)
3.) Jordan Staal (0 G, 2 A)