Hurricanes Edge Sabres 3-1

The Hurricanes scored two straight goals in the 3rd period, good enough for a 3-1 win over the Sabres on Friday. Thomas Vanek scored the lone Buffalo goal. Head inside for more.

After a scoreless opening period that saw 34 total minutes in penalties, Carolina nearly got on the board. Eric Staal swiped the puck from Tyler Myers in the Buffalo zone for a breakaway chance on Miller, but rang a shot off the post. Miller got right back into position to deny Joni Pitkanen on the rebound, keeping it a 0-0 game.

Both sides entered the final period still in search of a goal, but it only took 1:56 for Buffalo to get on the board first. With Jordan Staal in the penalty box, Thomas Vanek bulled his way toward the net, taking slashes along the way, and whipped a shot past Ellis to give the Sabres a 1-0 lead. It only took the Hurricanes 1:35 to strike back with a power play goal of their own. Alexander Semin notched his first of the season with a laser that ended up in the Buffalo net, tying the game 1-1. Carolina took the lead later in the period on a Jay Harrison slapshot following a lost faceoff in the Sabres' zone.

1st Period
Goals
None

Penalties
0:56 - BUF - Jordan Leopold (2 min., interference)
1:34 - CAR - Jordan Staal (2 min., interference)
10:27 - BUF - Steve Ott (5 min., fighting)
10:27 - CAR - Tim Gleason (2 min., instigator)
10:27 - CAR - Tim Gleason (5 min., fighting)
10:27 - CAR - Tim Gleason (10 min. misconduct)
10:27 - BUF - Steve Ott (2 min., elbowing)
16:32 - BUF - Thomas Vanek (2 min., unsportsmanlike conduct)
16:32 - BUF - Thomas Vanek (2 min., unsportsmanlike conduct)
17:01 - CAR - Jeff Skinner (2 min., unsportsmanlike conduct)

2nd Period
Goals
None

Penalties
3:45 - CAR - Joni Pitkanen (2 min., interference)
14:47 - CAR - Jordan Staal (2 min., holding)

3rd Period
Goals

1:56 - BUF - Thomas Vanek (PPG) (3) (Jason Pominville, Christian Ehrhoff)

3:31 - CAR - Alexander Semin (PPG) (1) (Jordan Staal)
15:10 - CAR - Jay Harrison (1) (Eric Staal)

Penalties
1:37 - CAR - Jordan Staal (2 min., tripping)
2:50 - BUF - Marcus Foligno (high-sticking)

Goaltending
CAR - Dan Ellis
BUF - Ryan Miller

Power Plays
CAR -
BUF -

Three Stars
1.)
2.)
3.)