Friday night was not exactly a banner night for Hurricanes netminder Cam Ward. The 31 year-old was replaced by backup Eddie Lack after allowing three goals on 14 shots through two periods as the Carolina Hurricanes (8-11-4) lost 4-1 to the Buffalo Sabres (9-12-2) at First Niagara Center in Buffalo.
The Canes got off to a pretty good start, as they outshot Buffalo 11-3 in the first period. Sabres netminder Chad Johnson was up to the task however, making several good saves.
The Hurricanes headed to the locker room with a 1-0 deficit courtesy of a point shot by Sabres defenseman Josh Gorges that knuckled past Ward about nine minutes into the period.
The second period started with promise, as the Canes again were able to mount pressure, outshooting Buffalo 12-11 in the period. They tied the game as center Victor Rask knocked in a loose puck off a net mouth scramble about five minutes into the period.
The Sabres would regain the lead however, just following a failed Hurricanes power play about halfway through the second. Rookie defenseman Jaccob Slavin sent a pass up the middle from his own zone intended for center Jordan Staal. The pass was intercepted by Sabres rookie center Jack Eichel, who carried it into the zone and fired a laser past Ward to put Buffalo up 2-1.
It appeared the Canes would head to the locker room within one, but Sabres winger Brian Gionta tipped in a centering pass from winger Matt Moulson with less than 30 seconds remaining in the second period to put the home team up by two.
Lack replaced Ward to start the third, but the Canes were not able to mount much of a comeback, as they were outshot 7-5 by Buffalo in the period. Sabres center David Legwand sent a low shot past Lack about seven minutes into the period to seal a 4-1 Sabres win.
Neither team scored on the man advantage, as the Canes league-worst power play went 0-2 while the Sabres went 0-1.
The Hurricanes ended up outshooting Buffalo 28-21.
The loss ends the Canes’ four game point streak. They will attempt to start a new one on Monday as they face the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.
