RALEIGH, N.C. — The Buffalo Sabres had a 1-0 lead at the end of the first period and appeared to have command of the game Friday night against the Carolina Hurricanes. But 20 minutes does not win a game.
The Hurricanes scored five goals on Andres Nilsson between the second and third periods and the Sabres could only muster up one more goal in the 5-2 losing effort.
William Carrier scored the Sabres first goal from Ryan O’Reilly at 4:24 of the first period, while Brian Gionta scored the Sabres second goal — an unassisted shorthanded goal banged into the net after Cam Ward misplayed an Evander Kane dump in — at 11:49 of the second period.
Carolina got a pair of goals from Jeff Skinner within a minute of one another in the second period. Brock McGinn also scored for Carolina in the second period at 6:51 — and again at 7:58 of the third. Victor Rask made it 4-2 Carolina at 4:15 of the third.
The Sabres will attempt to get back to .500 on Monday when the Dallas Stars visit KeyBank Center.
