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Sabres make it seven
The Hurricanes and the Sabres match speed, strength and goals, with four different Canes contributing to the final score. But Thomas Vanek's power-play goal breaks a 3-3 tie in the third period and all but seals the game for Buffalo.
Luke DeCock, Staff Writer
BUFFALO - When Thomas Vanek's shot trickled through Cam Ward's legs, victory slipped away from the Carolina Hurricanes, but only because they didn't grab it earlier.
Vanek's power-play goal midway through the third period Friday sent the Buffalo Sabres on their way to a 5-4 win, their seventh in a row to open the season. It was the Sabres' first power play of the third, and they didn't mess around.
If the Canes had taken care of business earlier in the third, they might be the team with the winning streak. Instead, Carolina's streak ended at three and the Canes again are looking up at .500 going into tonight's game at the New York Islanders.
Erik Cole drew a penalty early in the period with the score tied 3-3, but the Canes couldn't muster a shot on goal or even a decent scoring chance. The Sabres then had a power play of their own, and Vanek converted for the go-ahead goal when Maxim Afinogenov found him in the slot and Vanek took a quick shot that went between Ward's legs.
"We certainly like to think when it's 3-3 going into the third, it's our game," said Hurricanes forward Ray Whitney, who had two assists Friday. "That's been our mentality since I've been here." Not this year. The Canes are 0-2-1 when the score is tied going into the third.
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The Hurricanes and the Sabres match speed, strength and goals, with four different Canes contributing to the final score. But Thomas Vanek's power-play goal breaks a 3-3 tie in the third period and all but seals the game for Buffalo.
Luke DeCock, Staff Writer
BUFFALO - When Thomas Vanek's shot trickled through Cam Ward's legs, victory slipped away from the Carolina Hurricanes, but only because they didn't grab it earlier.
Vanek's power-play goal midway through the third period Friday sent the Buffalo Sabres on their way to a 5-4 win, their seventh in a row to open the season. It was the Sabres' first power play of the third, and they didn't mess around.
If the Canes had taken care of business earlier in the third, they might be the team with the winning streak. Instead, Carolina's streak ended at three and the Canes again are looking up at .500 going into tonight's game at the New York Islanders.
Erik Cole drew a penalty early in the period with the score tied 3-3, but the Canes couldn't muster a shot on goal or even a decent scoring chance. The Sabres then had a power play of their own, and Vanek converted for the go-ahead goal when Maxim Afinogenov found him in the slot and Vanek took a quick shot that went between Ward's legs.
"We certainly like to think when it's 3-3 going into the third, it's our game," said Hurricanes forward Ray Whitney, who had two assists Friday. "That's been our mentality since I've been here." Not this year. The Canes are 0-2-1 when the score is tied going into the third.
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