Hurricanes 3, Sabres 2 (OT)

Rookie defenseman Jamie McBain scored 26 seconds into overtime, lifting the Carolina Hurricanes to a 3-2 home triumph over the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday.

Jiri Tlusty and Chad LaRose also tallied while All-Star Cam Ward made 27 saves for the Hurricanes, who improved to 5-1-1 in their last seven home games and moved one point ahead of the New York Rangers for seventh place in the Eastern Conference.

McBain, who also had an assist, took a pass from fellow blue-liner Joni Pitkanen and blasted a shot from the top of the right faceoff circle past Ryan Miller for his fifth goal of the season.

After a scoreless first period, each team tallied twice in the second. Defenseman Steve Montador got Buffalo on the board at 4:35 and Tlusty pulled Carolina even 2:11 later.

Brad Boyes scored his second goal in as many games with the Sabres midway through the session, but LaRose forged a 2-2 tie 1:46 later with his 12th of the season.

Defenseman Andrej Sekera notched two assists and Miller stopped 21 shots for Buffalo, which had its four-game road winning streak snapped.

Season Series
CarolinaStatsBuffalo
2-1-1Vs2-1-1
7Goals7
5.7Shot %5.2
6.3Power Play %8.3
43.4Faceoff %56.6