Sabres 3, Hurricanes 2 (OT)
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Jack Eichel scored with one second remaining in overtime to lead the Buffalo Sabres to a 3-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday afternoon.
With overtime winding down, Eichel raced in alone on a breakaway following a high, floating pass by Evander Kane. Eichel calmly slid a backhand shot through goaltender Cam Ward's legs to give the Sabres the victory.
Eichel and Marcus Foligno scored in regulation for Buffalo (28-33-9). Chad Johnson made 28 saves.
Phillip Di Giuseppe and Victor Rask scored for the Hurricanes (31-26-12). Ward made 21 saves.
After a slow first period for both teams, Di Giuseppe opened the scoring 6:42 into the second following a sloppy play in front of the Buffalo net. After Jeff Skinner worked his way to the Buffalo net but lost the puck, Di Giuseppe scooped the puck into the net for his sixth goal of the season.
Foligno evened the score just over a minute later. Sabres captain Brian Gionta forced a Carolina turnover inside the right circle and Foligno quickly buried his chance with a low shot to the far corner of the net. It was Foligno's ninth goal of the year.
Eichel made it 2-1 4:55 into the third period following a terrific setup by fellow rookie Sam Reinhart. Reihart skated hard inside the left circle before cutting and finding Eichel in front of the Hurricanes net. Eichel had an easy tap-in for his 21st goal of the season.
Rask made it 2-2 with a power-play goal midway through the third. With his back to the Sabres net, the Hurricanes center lifted a backhand shot past Johnson for his 16th goal of the year at 9:01.
Late chances were few and far between up until the very end of the overtime session. Just prior to Eichel's game-winner, the Hurricanes had a chance to win it in the Buffalo end.
NOTES: D Cody Franson (neck) was scratched for the Sabres. ... D Justin Faulk and C Andrej Nestrasil were scratched for the Hurricanes. ... Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael Flaherty announced Friday that Sabres LW Evander Kane will not face any criminal charges after an investigation into a possible sexual assault. Kane expressed relief following the news on Saturday morning. "I'm definitely happy that process is behind me and I'm very grateful for the support I got from the Buffalo Sabres and my teammates and family members as well," Kane said. "I'm thankful that this is behind me and I'm looking to move forward." ... This was the second of three meetings between the teams. Their final meeting takes place on March 22 in Carolina.