Semin, Staal lead Hurricanes past Sabres, 4-3

[March 06, 2013]  RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- Alexander Semin had a goal and two assists, linemate Eric Staal added three assists and the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Buffalo Sabres 4-3 on Tuesday night.

Jiri Tlusty, Joe Corvo and Jussi Jokinen also scored for Carolina, which was playing for the first time since goalie Cam Ward went on injured reserve following a torn MCL that will require a recovery of six to eight weeks. The Hurricanes won their fourth straight and completed a three-game season sweep of the Sabres.

Staal picked up his 600th NHL point with the first of his two assists on the night on Tlusty's goal in the first period.

Justin Peters, recalled from Charlotte of the AHL, had 37 saves in his first start of the season for the Hurricanes.

Cody Hodgson scored twice and T.J. Brennan had a goal for the Sabres. Ryan Miller had 24 saves.

The Hurricanes led 1-0 after one period, outshooting the Sabres 12-6. Tlusty beat Miller on glove side from the slot on Staal's centering pass just 91 seconds into the game. Semin also had an assist on the play, giving the trio a four-game scoring streak.

Corvo made it 2-0 with a power-play goal from the left point at 12:17 of the second.

Peters' best save came with 1:17 left in the second, when he stopped Thomas Vanek's shot in the crease with the barrel of his stick. Vanek was back in the Buffalo lineup after missing two games with a lower-body injury.

The Sabres made it 2-1 on a rush 25 seconds into the third, with Hodgson picking up the change from Vanek's blast from the high slot.

But Jokinen took just 50 seconds to restore the two-goal lead, scoring on Staal's feed into the low slot with Semin again on the secondary assist.

Brennan scored a power-play goal from the right point on Jason Pominville's assist with 5:27 remaining, just 3 seconds after Jay Harrison had returned to the ice to end a 5-on-3.

But Semin scored from Staal with 3:47 left to get Carolina the 4-2 lead.

Hodgson scored short-handed goal with 34 seconds to go.

Buffalo right wing Patrick Kaleta was serving the first of his five-game suspension for his hit on New York Rangers center Brad Richards on Sunday.

NOTES: It was Buffalo's first-ever visit to Carolina without Lindy Ruff as head coach. ... D Joni Pitkanen (lower body) missed his ninth straight game for Carolina while C Tim Brent (lower body) missed his eighth straight, and RW Chad LaRose (concussion) his second straight. ... Carolina was playing the opener of a three-game homestand. ... The Sabres were playing the second of a four-game road swing.

[Associated Press; By MIKE POTTER]

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