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The Hurricanes scored three 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.
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 Ryan 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, Vanek bulled his way toward the net, taking slashes along the way, and whipped a shot past Dan 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 and Jeff Skinner's empty-netter sealed the victory.
Both goaltenders were excellent, especially Ellis. The Hurricanes backup stopped 40 of 41 shots while Miller finished 39 saves on 41 shots. Noticeable on Friday night was the lack of playing time for 18-year-old Mikhail Grigorenko. The rookie saw just 6:48 on the ice and did not skate at all during the third period.
The Sabres, now 2-2, visit the Washington Capitals on Sunday at 3 p.m. Hear the call on WGR SportsRadio 550 and the Buffalo Sabres Radio Network.
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)
19:34 - CAR - Jeff Skinner (PPG) (EN) (4) (Tim Gleason, Jay Harrison)
Penalties
1:37 - CAR - Jordan Staal (2 min., tripping)
2:50 - BUF - Marcus Foligno (2 min., high-sticking)
17:51 - BUF - Thomas Vanek (2 min., cross checking)
Goaltending
CAR - Dan Ellis (40 saves, 41 shots)
BUF - Ryan Miller (39 saves, 41 shots)
Power Plays
CAR - 2 of 5
BUF - 1 of 4
Three Stars
1.) Jay Harrison (1 G, 1 A)
2.) Dan Ellis (40 saves)
3.) Ryan Miller (39 saves)