Hurricanes 4, Sabres 2: Alexander Semin scored the tying goal with just over eight minutes to play before setting up Jiri Tlusty's game-winner less than two minutes later to lift host Carolina.

Jeff Skinner also scored and Nathan Gerbe added an empty-net tally as the Hurricanes won for only the third time in 10 games and notched back-to-back victories for the first time since Jan. 25-27. Jordan Staal collected a pair of assists and Cam Ward turned aside 21 shots to win his second straight start.

Tyler Ennis converted on a penalty shot and Drew Stafford netted a third-period goal for Buffalo, which tumbled to its fourth consecutive defeat. Michal Neuvirth was a hard-luck loser despite making a career-high 51 saves - including all 22 shots in the middle session.

Despite Carolina's overwhelming edge in play, Stafford put the Sabres ahead 2-1 with his ninth goal in 16 games at 8:43 of the third. Semin knotted it three minutes later on the power play, blowing a one-timer past Neuvirth from the left circle before Tlusty went high from the right hash marks to put the Hurricanes ahead with 6:17 remaining.

Ennis opened the scoring midway through the opening period after Tlusty was whistled for slashing and converted the penalty shot for his 17th goal. Skinner knotted it with a sharp-angle shot from the bottom of the right circle off a faceoff three minutes later.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Ennis' tally was the first penalty-shot goal for Buffalo since Thomas Vanek converted on April 10, 2010, against Ottawa. ... Staal has two goals and five assists during a four-game point streak while Skinner tallied for the third time in four games. ... Sabres D Alexander Sulzer, who returned to the lineup after missing the previous two games due to injury, suffered an upper-body ailment when he was hit by Tlusty in the first period and did not return.