The Sabres (9-6-3) continue to struggle after their time overseas. Thursday night’s matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes (11-7-1) was their first game at home since November 2nd. Buffalo has now lost five games in a row but snapped a four-game losing skid in regulation by earning a point in overtime.
Jeff Skinner was able to get Buffalo on the board first, scoring off a backhanded cross-ice pass from Connor Sheary at 4:26. The goal was Skinner’s fifth in four career games against his former team, adding up to at least one goal per meeting — It was also his eighth goal of the season.
The smile says it all.@JeffSkinner just loves to score. pic.twitter.com/h0GoUE5NKE
— NHL (@NHL) November 15, 2019
The Hurricanes would strike back less than eight minutes later, as Captain Jordan Staal scored his 100th with the team.
Jordan Staal's 100th goal as a member of the #Canes
Congrats Captain 👊 pic.twitter.com/eEnYZE9hR6
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) November 15, 2019
At 17:17, Sebastian Aho scored a power-play goal, bringing the Canes up by one to take the 2-1 lead, ninth of the season. It has been said by man Sabres players that their main struggle this season is reacting to pressure — they end up throwing the puck away. This was shown much throughout the first period and continued throughout the rest of the night.
Teuvo and Aho teamed up to Finnish pic.twitter.com/5LCQalEzKs
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) November 15, 2019
Just 49 seconds into the second period, Teuvo Teravainen tipped in a shot from Aho, giving Carolina a two-goal lead. Curtis Lazar, playing his first game as a Sabre, scored a breakaway goal with 4:56 left in the period, bringing the deficit to one point.
CURTIS LAZAR SCORES!!
His first goal as a Sabre in his first game as a Sabre. 🙌#Sabres50 pic.twitter.com/I0PM6siqYl
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) November 15, 2019
As the third period began to look grim for the Sabres, Henri Jokiharju scored his second goal as a Sabres at 13:35 off a turnover from Brett Pesce near the Hurricane’s net, tying up the game at 3.
🚨 JOKIHARJU!!!!! 🚨
WE'RE TIED UP! #Sabres50 pic.twitter.com/hpQVZVNQWY
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) November 15, 2019
It wouldn’t be long until the Canes came back on top. At 16:06, Andrei Svechnikov scored on the power play due to a penalty to Sam Reinhart for high-sticking. Reinhart then received 10 minutes for Misconduct and did not return to the game.
Reinhart gets a 10-minute misconduct for giving the official a piece of his mind after the goal. Steve Smith and Krueger also giving it to the officials. Tons of interference all around been ignored in this one.
— Joe Yerdon (@JoeYerdon) November 15, 2019
Just as hope was fleeting, again, for Buffalo, Skinner swooped in and tied it up with about 40 seconds left in regular gameplay. The goal was later awarded to Johan Larsson, assisted by Skinner and Victor Olofsson.
Skinner's shot finds the back of the net!!! 🚨
WE'RE TIED WITH 40 SECONDS TO GO! pic.twitter.com/kEgMskuhJI
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) November 15, 2019
With 3:41 left in overtime, both teams lost a skater due to holding, Rasmus Ristolainen and Andrei Svechnikov. At 2:28, Dougie Hamilton would seal the victory for Carolina.
Nobody does it like Dougie pic.twitter.com/3UJFkaXsXY
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) November 15, 2019
Carter Hutton tallied 24 saves in net and although Buffalo’s power play generated good scoring chances, they were unable to score on three opportunities.
The Sabres will face the Ottawa Senators Saturday night at KeyBank Center.