Raleigh, N.C. (WGR 550) - A back-and-forth affair at PNC Arena went way of the home team in overtime on Tuesday night, as the Buffalo Sabres lost a close one to the Carolina Hurricanes by a final score of 3-2.
Carolina opened the scoring 12:43 into the first period.
After the blue and gold came up empty on consecutive power play tries, the Hurricanes capitalized on their first opportunity. Defenseman Tony DeAngelo netted the first goal of his season to make it 1-0 for the home side.
The Sabres evened the score less than four minutes into the second period of play when Alex Tuch stayed hot with his third goal since Saturday night. Hanging in the slot, Tuch stuck with a broken play developing to his left in the corner, and cashed in when the puck came sliding in front of the Carolina goal crease.
In the third, the teams traded a goal apiece.
First, it was defenseman Brady Skjei and the Hurricanes who took back their second lead of the night. Forward Sebastian Aho located Skjei in the slot for a quick one-timer, as Skjei netted his second goal of the season.
Just a minute-and-a-half later, though, Rasmus Dahlin and the Sabres answered right back on a man advantage. Dahlin showcased his talents, gaining the line and self-passing a puck to himself off the boards before wiring the game-tying goal in past goalie Antti Raanta.
That would serve as the last goal of regulation for either side, as overtime was needed in Carolina.
However, it was the Hurricanes who got the last laugh as a re-direction from forward Martin Necas in front of Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen dropped the curtain on Buffalo in a 3-2 loss.
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SCORING SUMMARY:
First Period:
BUF: NONE
CAR: 12:43 - Tony DeAngelo (1) PPG (Unassisted)
Second Period:
BUF: 3:51 - Alex Tuch (4) (Unassisted)
CAR: NONE
Third Period:
BUF: 9:23 - Rasmus Dahlin (3) PPG (Tage Thompson, Casey Mittelstadt)
CAR: 7:54 - Brady Skjei (2) (Sebastian Aho, Dmitry Orlov)
Overtime:
BUF: NONE
CAR: 1:30 - Martin Necas (5) (Sebastian Aho, Brady Skjei)
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Losi and Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Martin Necas - CAR
2.) Antti Raanta - CAR
3.) Dmitry Orlov - CAR
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What's next:
The blue and gold return home to host the Minnesota Wild on Friday night for a 7 p.m. EST puck drop at KeyBank Center. Hear all the action on the radio home of the Sabres - WGR Sports Radio 550 - with pregame coverage starting at 6 p.m. EST with Mike Schopp and the Bulldog.