Sebastian Aho's hat trick that included a pair of first period goals helped power the Carolina Hurricanes to a 5-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night at PNC Arena.
The Sabres got on the scoreboard right away, scoring just 28 seconds into the game to take a 1-0 advantage over Carolina. Jacob Bryson scored his first goal of the season, Dylan Cozens helped create a turnover in the offensive zone and fed the defenseman that resulted in the game's first goal.
Bryson's goal was the quickest for the team in the last two seasons.
Carolina was able to tie the game 1-1 eight minutes later thanks to an Aho one-time shot from the face-off dot to Craig Anderson's left. Teuvo Teravainen made the pass that set up the score, he and Seth Jarvis were credited with the assists.
Buffalo did not waste any time re-taking the lead against Carolina. The team was able to win an offensive zone face-off draw and moved the puck to the high slot where Victor Olofsson buried the chance.
Jack Quinn and Kale Clague assisted on the second Sabres goal of the game. Aho took advantage of the first power play of the night and tied the score 2-2 late in the opening frame. His second goal of the game came 12 seconds after a Rasmus Dahlin tripping minor.
Dahlin mixed it up later in the period with Jesperi Kotkaniemi that sent both players to the penalty box.
The Hurricanes first lead of the night came four minutes into the middle period. Aho sets up the go-ahead goal for his third point of the night. His backhand pass through the crease reached Martin Necas who wired a wrist shot in the net. Buffalo's first deficit was 3-2.
The Sabres were unable to tie the game before the end of the second period, despite a pair of power play chances later in the frame. Buffalo was credited with nine shots in the period, while Carolina had 12 shots against Craig Anderson.
Carolina was able to double their lead to 4-2 thanks to a re-direction off of Jesperi Kotkaniemi at the side of the net. Necas sent the puck over to Kotkaniemi and was credited with an assist, along with Andrei Svechnikov.
Aho completed the hat trick with an empty net goal coming with just over two minutes remaining in regulation. Teravainen and Seth Jarvis assisted on Aho's seventh goal of the season.
Rasmus Dahlin was able to score on the power play with 0.1 seconds remaining in the game to record his seventh goal of the season and record a special teams tally for Buffalo. J.J. Peterka and Jack Quinn assisted on the goal at the end of regulation.
Game Summary
Goal Summary
First Period
BUF: 0:28 - Jacob Bryson (1) (Dylan Cozens)
10:06 - Victor Olofsson (9) (Jack Quinn, Kale Clague)
CAR: 8:07 - Sebastian Aho (5) (Tuevo Teravainen, Seth Jarvis)
12:45 - Sebastian Aho (6) PPG (Martin Necas, Andrei Svechnikov)
Second Period
BUF: none
CAR: 4:03 - Martin Necas (7) (Sebastian Aho)
Third Period
BUF: 19:59 - Rasmus Dahlin (7) PPG (J.J. Peterka , Jack Quinn)
CAR: 9:22 - Jesperi Kotkaniemi (1) (Martin Necas, Andrei Svechnikov)
17:46 - Sebastian Aho (7) ENG (Tuevo Teravainen, Seth Jarvis)
Penalty Summary
First Period
BUF: 12:33 - Rasmus Dahlin (2 min., tripping)
15:41 - Rasmus Dahlin (2 min., roughing)
15:41 - Rasmus Dahlin (2 min., interference)
19:57 - Kyle Okposo (2 min., cross-checking)
CAR: 12:56 - Jesper Fast (2 min., interference)
15:41 - Jesperi Kotkaniemi (2 min., roughing)
Second Period
BUF: 7:45 - Kale Clague (2 min., interference)
CAR: 13:13 - Sebastian Aho (2 min., cross-checking)
16:43 - Paul Stastny (2 min., hooking)
Third Period
BUF: none
CAR: 13:12 - Brady Skjei (2 min., holding)
19:23 - Jordan Martinook (2 min., holding the stick)
Losi and Gangi Three Stars
1. Sebastian Aho
2. Martin Necas
3. Andrei Svechnikov
What's Next
The Sabres continue on the road with a meeting against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday night at Amalie Arena.
Buffalo and Tampa Bay will drop the puck at 7 p.m. ET on the flagship home of the Sabres Radio Network - WGR Sportsradio 550. Pregame coverage with Brian Koziol is at 6 p.m. ET to start our coverage.