NHL

Buffalo Sabres at Carolina Hurricanes

· National Hockey League
Final
3 - 6

Hurricanes extend winning streak to 3 games with a 6-3 victory over the Sabres

Buffalo Sabres vs. Carolina Hurricanes: Game Highlights

Sebastian Aho and Eric Robinson, returning from a six-game absence, also scored for the Hurricanes, who won for the fourth time in five games despite using a revolving roster because of injuries. Seth Jarvis and Legault, who didn’t have a career point until a third-period assist, added empty-net goals. Pyotr Kochetkov made 19 saves.

Owen Power, Alex Tuch and Tage Thompson scored for the Sabres, who trailed 4-1 less than a minute into the third period. Alex Lyon stopped 29 shots. Buffalo has lost two in a row in regulation following a seven-game points streak.

Svechnikov gave the Hurricanes a 2-1 lead with a power-play goal in the second period. It was Carolina’s fifth conversion in 39 man-advantage opportunities this season.

After Robinson scored 29 seconds into the third period, Tuch and Thompson scored less than 3½ minutes apart to cut Buffalo’s deficit to 4-3.

Jarvis had the first empty-net tally for his team-leading ninth goal of the season with 2:04 left. Kochetkov has won in both of his outings this season.

Joel Nystrom and Legault, both Hurricanes defensemen, recorded their first career points with assists. They’ve been pressed into NHL duty because of Carolina’s list of injured blue liners. Hurricanes forward Nikolaj Ehlers posted his 300th career assist.

The Sabres had defenseman Jacob Bryson in the lineup for the first time since Oct. 18 with the absence of captain Rasmus Dahlin, who returned to Sweden to tend to a personal matter.

Up next Sabres: At Utah on Wednesday.

Hurricanes: At Toronto on Sunday.

Regular Season Series

CAR leads series 1-0

Scoring Summary

Goal 1st Period 5:00 Sebastian Aho Goal (5) Snap Shot, assists: Andrei Svechnikov (2)
Goal 1st Period 8:18 Owen Power Goal (2) Snap Shot, assists: Noah Ostlund (1)
Goal 2nd Period 4:34 Andrei Svechnikov Goal (4) Slap Shot, assists: K'Andre Miller (4), Nikolaj Ehlers (5)
Goal 2nd Period 11:39 Jesperi Kotkaniemi Goal (2) Slap Shot, assists: Joel Nystrom (1), Taylor Hall (5)
Goal 3rd Period 0:29 Eric Robinson Goal (4) Snap Shot, assists: Jesperi Kotkaniemi (3), Charles Alexis Legault (1)
Goal 3rd Period 3:23 Alex Tuch Goal (6) Snap Shot, assists: Tage Thompson (6)
Goal 3rd Period 6:49 Tage Thompson Goal (6) Snap Shot, assists: Ryan McLeod (5), Alex Tuch (8)
Goal 3rd Period 17:56 Seth Jarvis Goal (9) Snap Shot, assists: Jordan Staal (2)
Goal 3rd Period 18:32 Charles Alexis Legault Goal (1) Snap Shot, assists: Sebastian Aho (10)

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/buf.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originBUF https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/car.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originCAR
16 Blocked Shots 13
21 Hits 25
7 Takeaways 7
22 Shots 35
0 Power Play Goals 1
1 Power Play Opportunities 2
0.0 Power Play Percentage 50.0
0 Short Handed Goals 0
0 Shootout Goals 0
31 Faceoffs Won 33
48.4 Faceoff Win Percent 51.6
25 Giveaways 24
3 Total Penalties 2
6 Penalty Minutes 4
Carolina Hurricanes Carolina Hurricanes Injuries
NAME, POS STATUS DATE
Alexander Nikishin, D Day-To-Day Dec 23
William Carrier, LW Out Dec 23
Jaccob Slavin, D Injured Reserve Dec 22
Jordan Martinook, LW Out Dec 22
Seth Jarvis, C Injured Reserve Dec 22
Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Sabres Injuries
NAME, POS STATUS DATE
Tyson Kozak, C Out Dec 23
Conor Timmins, D Injured Reserve Dec 20
Colten Ellis, G Injured Reserve Dec 17
Jason Zucker, LW Injured Reserve Dec 17

Game Information

Lenovo Center

Location: Raleigh, NC
Attendance: 18,299 | Capacity:

2025-26 Atlantic Division Standings

TEAM W L PTS OTL
Detroit 22 13 47 3
Montreal 20 12 45 5
Tampa Bay 20 13 43 3
Florida 20 14 42 2
Ottawa 18 13 41 5
Boston 20 17 41 1
Buffalo 18 14 40 4
Toronto 16 15 37 5

2025-26 Metropolitan Division Standings

TEAM W L PTS OTL
Carolina 22 11 47 3
Philadelphia 19 10 45 7
NY Islanders 20 13 44 4
Washington 19 13 43 5
NY Rangers 19 16 42 4
New Jersey 20 16 41 1
Pittsburgh 15 12 39 9
Columbus 15 15 36 6
Full Standings