Sabres 3, Hurricanes 2
Cody McCormick snapped a tie midway through the second period and Drew Stafford added a power-play goal early in the third as the Buffalo Sabres posted a 3-2 home triumph over the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday.
Nathan Gerbe also scored, Thomas Vanek notched a pair of assists and Ryan Miller made 27 saves for the Sabres, who have gone 5-1-1 in their last seven contests.
McCormick, who ended a 12-game goalless drought Tuesday, made it two in a row by putting a wrist shot past Cam Ward with 8:11 to play in the middle session. Stafford created some breathing room during a man advantage in the third, netting his 15th goal of the campaign and fifth in six games at 3:26.
Gerbe opened the scoring with 5:22 remaining in the first period, beating Ward for just his second goal in 26 games this season. Carolina drew even just over five minutes into the second when Tuomo Ruutu converted a power-play opportunity for his 12th tally.
Rookie Joel Skinner tallied, captain Eric Staal extended his points streak to seven games with an assist and Ward stopped 32 shots for the Hurricanes, who fell to 6-1-2 in their last nine.