Hurricanes skate past Sabres 5-3

Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network
Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Carolina Hurricanes won their second game in as many days as they beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-3 at First Niagara Center on Thursday.

Former Sabres defenseman Andrej Sekera scored the eventual game-winner at 9:50 of the third period to move the Hurricanes into fifth place in the NHL’s Metropolitan Division (22-19-9, 53 points) and three points out of a playoff spot.

Forwards Jeff Skinner and Alexander Semin tallied their 22nd and 11th goals of the season respectively to keep Carolina on pace with Buffalo as both teams were tied 2-2 after the first 40 minutes of play.

A goal from Buffalo’s Tyler Ennis put the Hurricanes behind 3-2 during the first minute of play in the third period, and required them to dig deeper if they wanted to pull out another road victory as they did the night before in Philadelphia.

Semin scored his second goal of the game at 7:25 to even the score 3-3 before Sekera scored the go-ahead and eventual game-winner just over two minutes later.

Leading by a goal for the final 10 minutes of play, Carolina goaltender Anton Khudobin didn’t give up another goal and earned his ninth win of the season on a 26-save performance as Jiri Tlusty tucked away an empty-netter with one second remaining to finalize the Hurricanes’ 5-3 win.