BUFFALO (LGS) — HSBC Arena will be the venue as the Buffalo Sabres and the Carolina Hurricanes play for the second time this season. The 7 p.m. face-off (MSG-TV, WGR-AM) will be the first one between the two clubs in Buffalo this year.
The Sabres are looking to erase painful memories of the first meeting, a 6-2 Hurricanes victory Oct. 24.
Eric Staal, Jeff Hamilton, Cory Stillman and Brett Hedican each scored third period goals for Carolina, who exploded in the final frame after being tied through the first two.
Jason Pominville scored both Buffalo goals.
Pominville, tied for the team lead with 17 points, has struggled offensively since the last meeting, going 13 games without a goal before scoring in each of the last two.
The winger's problems have been a microcosm for the Sabres season thus far, as the team struggled to find the back of the net early in November.
But recently, the squad has found their way back, going on a five-game winning streak before concluding the month with a 4-3 loss to St. Louis Wednesday night.
Pominville, Ales Kotalik and Andrej Sekera scored for the Sabres, who evened out their record at 11-11-1 with the loss.
Derek Roy was injured in the loss, but is expected to play against the Hurricanes. Adam Mair will likely be a game-time decision, possibly returning from his ankle injury that has sidelined him since Nov. 5, a span of 10 games.
Carolina (14-9-3) has cooled to a simmer after a quick start through October. However, they defeated Washington 4-3 Friday night before flying to Buffalo.
The victory was just their third in 8 games.
Rod Brind'Amour scored two goals in the win, while Stillman added a goal for the Hurricanes.
Cam Ward made 31 saves for the win.
Buffalo heads to Southern California after the weekend for the first time since before the lockout.
LGS FAST FACT
This isn't a fact, but an explanation to you who read this Web site. I just thought I'd update you all on my whereabouts recently. I had been without a working computer for two weeks, hence the long absence of game previews. But I'm back, and so are the articles. And boy does it feel good. Fifty dollars was never spent as wisely as it was here. I hope to never leave you hanging that long again!
