Hurricanes 3, Sabres 1
Defenseman Jay Harrison took advantage of a tired Buffalo line to score with 4:50 remaining in the third period and hand visiting Carolina its second win in as many nights against the Sabres.
Dan Ellis made 40 saves and Alexander Semin scored a power-play goal for the Hurricanes, who took the lead after consecutive icing calls late in the third period left Buffalo unable to change lines. Harrison fired a wrist shot through traffic off a clean faceoff win by captain Eric Staal for the eventual game-winning goal.
Ryan Miller stopped 39 shots for the Sabres, who opened the scoring early in the third on a power-play goal by Thomas Vanek.
Vanek, who had two assists in a 6-3 loss in Carolina on Thursday, skated toward the slot from the left faceoff circle and beat Ellis with a wrist shot 1:56 into the period. Semin replied with a similar goal - his first with the Hurricanes - less than two minutes later.
Vanek took a cross-checking penalty with 2:09 remaining in the game and Jeff Skinner scored an empty-netter on the power play to give Carolina some breathing room.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Jordan Staal assisted on Semin’s goal and has points in three straight games for the Hurricanes. … Buffalo D Robyn Regehr led all players with five hits. … Carolina D Justin Faulk left the game with an upper-body injury after playing most of the second period.