National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Carolina 4, Buffalo 3
When: 7:00 PM ET, Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Where: PNC Arena, Raleigh, North Carolina
Referees: Mike Hasenfratz, Brad Watson
Linesmen: Scott Driscoll, Andy McElman
Attendance: N/A


Hurricanes 4, Sabres 3: Alexander Semin had a goal and two assists to power host Carolina to its fourth consecutive victory.

Jussi Jokinen, Jiri Tlusty and defenseman Joe Corvo added goals and captain Eric Staal collected three assists as the Hurricanes completed a three-game sweep against Buffalo this season.

Justin Peters, who was making his first NHL appearance in 13 months, made 37 saves to secure his first win since Feb. 20, 2012. Ryan Miller had 24 saves for the Sabres.

Cody Hodgson scored a pair of goals and defenseman T.J. Brennan had a power-play tally for Buffalo, which cut a two-goal deficit in half three times before absorbing its second straight loss following a three-game winning streak.

Hodgson scored 25 seconds into the final period to cut the deficit to 2-1, but Jokinen answered 50 seconds later to restore the two-game cushion. Brennan's one-timer at 14:33 again brought the Sabres within a goal before Semin snapped a wrist shot from just inside the right circle past Miller at 16:13.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Staal collected his 600th career assist on Tlusty's goal. Semin scored his first goal at home and picked up his 16th assist on Tlusty's tally, extending the entire line's point streak to four games. ... Sabres captain Jason Pominville notched his 265th career assist to move into 10th place on the franchise career list. ... Peters was called up from Charlotte of the American Hockey League after Hurricanes G Cam Ward suffered a sprained knee in Sunday's game. Ward will be out six to eight weeks.

Top Game Performances
 
Buffalo   Carolina
Cody Hodgson 2 Points Alexander Semin 3
Cody Hodgson 2 Goals Alexander Semin 1
Jason Pominville 2 Assists Eric Staal 3
T.J. Brennan 1 Power Play Goals Joe Corvo 1
Cody Hodgson 1 Short Handed Goals N/A
Ryan Miller .857 Save Percentage Justin Peters .925
Ryan Miller 24 Saves Justin Peters 37
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Buffalo 40 3 1-3 2-3 6 30
Carolina 28 4 1-3 2-3 6 37
Upcoming Games
  • Carolina will play their next game at home against Montreal. The Hurricanes have a W/L % of .583 after a win and .667 after a loss.
  • Buffalo will play their next game on the road against New Jersey. The Sabres have a W/L % of .444 after a win and .286 after a loss.