Sabres 4, Hurricanes 1
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Center Jack Eichel scored the game-winning goal 12:24 into the second period to lead the Buffalo Sabres to a 4-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday night.
Defenseman Josh Gorges, right winger Brian Gionta and center David Legwand also scored and goalie Chad Johnson made 27 saves for Buffalo (9-12-2), which ended a six-game losing streak.
Center Victor Rask scored for Carolina (8-11-4). Goalie Cam Ward was pulled by the Hurricanes after allowing three goals on 14 shots through two periods. He was replaced by Eddie Lack, who made 6 of 7 saves.
Gorges opened the scoring 8:57 into the first period on a long shot from the left point. The defenseman's long shot skipped in front of the Carolina net and bounced in for his first goal of the season.
Rask evened the score 4:59 into the second period on a rebound opportunity. After Hurricanes center Elias Lindholm forced a poor giveaway by Gionta, center Eric Staal's initial shot was blocked but Rask buried the rebound for his team-leading seventh goal of the year.
Eichel made it 2-1 with a terrific shot from long range with 7:36 remaining in the second. After picking up the puck off a Carolina turnover near center ice, the rookie standout skated up ice and ripped a hard shot into the top left corner of the net for his team-best eighth goal of the season.
Gionta made it 3-1 with 22.5 seconds left in the second with a strong deflection from the slot. With the Sabres racing up the ice, left winger Matt Moulson fired a hard pass to Gionta and the right winger redirected the puck to the short side of the net.
Legwand increased Buffalo's lead to 4-1 6:36 into the third. With left winger Jamie McGinn stationed behind the net, McGinn found Legwand in the slot for his second goal in the past three games.
NOTES: Sabres LW Johan Larsson and D Mike Weber were scratched. After impressing at times last year, Larsson has struggled this season. The 23-year-old forward has just three points (no goals, three assists) in 21 games. Weber is nearing a return to the lineup after undergoing minor knee surgery, Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said. Weber has been out since Nov. 7. ... Hurricanes D Michal Jordan was scratched. ... This was the first of three meetings between the teams this season. The next games takes place March 12, in Buffalo.