Sebastian Aho had three goals and an assist as the Carolina Hurricanes settled in after a disturbing opening stretch to beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-3 on Friday night in Raleigh, N.C.
His final goal was an empty-netter with 2:14 remaining for his fifth career hat trick.
Martin Necas posted the winning goal and two assists in the second period with his seventh goal of the season as the Hurricanes pushed their winning streak to four games. Jesperi Kotkaniemi provided his first goal of the season in the third period while Seth Jarvis, Andrei Svechnikov and Teuvo Teravainen finished with two assists apiece.
Jacob Bryson and Victor Olofsson scored for the Sabres in the first period, but their efficiency on the offensive end eventually waned. Rasmus Dahlin’s seventh goal of the season came in the final second. Jack Quinn had two assists.
Hurricanes goalie Antti Raanta stopped 22 shots, while Sabres goalie Craig Anderson made 28 saves.
This was the first result in Carolina’s last four games that was decided in regulation. It was the first time in the last seven games that the Hurricanes scored at least four goals in regulation.
The Sabres also entered the game with a three-game winning streak.
Buffalo scored two goals in barely more than 10 minutes to open the game.
Bryson’s third goal of the season came just 28 seconds into the game when his shot bounced in off Svechnikov.
Aho, who had the shootout winner a night earlier at Tampa Bay, rifled a tough-angled shot off Teravainen’s pass to briefly tie the score.
Buffalo was back in the lead when Olofsson’s shot trickled between Raanta’s pads after an offensive zone faceoff. He became the seventh player in franchise history with at least nine goals through 11 games. He has five goals across the last four games.
Necas’ goal came 4:03 into the second period as he was left alone on the left side. Aho sent a pass through the crease and Necas converted.
–Field Level Media
