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Sabres fall to Canes in Home Opener

By WKBW News

Sabres fall to Canes in Home Opener

October 14, 2011 Updated Oct 14, 2011 at 11:44 PM EDT

Buffalo (WKBW.com) Jeff Skinner scored a power play goal with under two minutes to play in the game, as the Carolina Hurricanes handed the Sabres their first loss of the season 4-3 on Friday night. The setback came in front of a capacity crowd on hand at the First Niagara Center for the Sabres home opener.



Thomas Vanek opened the scoring for Buffalo when he tipped home a Jordan Leopold pass past Cam Ward in the first period. Derek Roy then gave the Sabres a 2-1 lead later in the period when he pushed a Drew Stafford rebound past Ward.



But the story of the night was special teams. The Sabres 0-for-7 on the power play, and gave up a pair of short handed goals. Brandon Sutter scored short handed for Carolina at the end of the first period to tie the game at one. Tim Brent then gave the Hurricanes a 3-2 lead early in the second period with a short handed tally of his own.



The Sabres trailed 3-2 with just over 2 minutes to play in the third when Drew Stafford would tie the game with his second goal of the season. Thomas Vanek took a tripping penalty less then a minute later to set up the Skinner eventual game winning goal.



The Sabres now hit the road for four straight games starting Saturday in Pittsburgh.

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