Sabres top Hurricanes in NHL's return
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Buffalo, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Christian Ehrhoff scored the winner with 43.4 seconds to play as the Buffalo Sabres took a 3-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes in the first game after the Olympic break.
Ehrhoff also scored the first goal of the game, while Tyler Ennis added a marker for the Sabres, who had lost four straight entering the break. Ryan Miller stopped 36 shots.
"It had to do a lot with Miller again," Ehrhoff said. "He made some huge saves for us. He was very sharp. He was our best player again tonight."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Eric Staal and Alexander Semin scored for the Hurricanes, who have dropped three of four. Cam Ward gave up all three goals on 18 shots.
"This is a tough pill to swallow right now, for everybody," said Staal. "We definitely had the better chances throughout the game, but they capitalized on their chances."
This contest was originally scheduled for Jan. 7 before wintry weather forced that meeting to be postponed until Tuesday.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}With the score tied in the closing minute, Ehrhoff flicked a shot on net from the right side that hit off the stick of Carolina's Justin Faulk and snuck into the net.
Carolina had a couple of shots in the closing seconds with Ward pulled for an extra attacker, but was unable to net the equalizer.
After a scoreless first period, Buffalo got on the board on the power play at 5:54 of the second period as Ehrhoff's slap shot from the high slot tipped off the glove of Ward and snuck in.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Skating on a 2-on-1 break, Carolina tied the game at 16:52 of the second period as Staal skated down the right wing and beat Miller through the five- hole for his 15th goal of the season.
The Sabres took the lead back at 12:13 of the third as Ennis tapped in his own rebound from the left side, but Semin answered with four minutes left as he skated through the slot and backed off the defender before beating Miller to the glove side.
Game Notes
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Buffalo hosts Boston on Wednesday ... Carolina plays in Dallas on Thursday ... Carolina took a 5-3 win over the Sabres in Buffalo on Jan. 23 ... Buffalo was 1-for-3 on the power play, while Carolina was 0-for-5.