RALEIGH, N.C. (Interstat) — Seth Jarvis scored the tiebreaking goal in the third period Monday afternoon, lifting the Carolina Hurricanes to a 2-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres at Lenovo Center. Defenseman Rasmus Dahlin gave Buffalo an early lead with a first-period goal, but Carolina’s Andrei Svechnikov answered minutes later. Sebastian Aho assisted on both Hurricanes goals. The game was a penalty-filled, defensive struggle, a stark contrast to the pregame over/under line of 6.5 goals. The win improved Carolina’s record to 31-19, while Buffalo fell to 26-22. The Sabres have lost two straight.

RALEIGH, N.C. (Interstat) — Seth Jarvis snapped a third-period tie with a power-play goal and the Carolina Hurricanes grinded out a 2-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Monday afternoon at Lenovo Center. In a tightly contested defensive struggle that defied pregame projections of a high-scoring affair, the Hurricanes leaned on their structure and a pivotal special teams conversion to secure two points and improve their season record to 31-19. Buffalo, which saw a modest two-game win streak snapped, fell to 26-22. The game’s decisive moment came with Buffalo defenseman Owen Power in the penalty box for tripping. Carolina’s top unit, which had buzzed with pressure all afternoon, finally broke through. Andrei Svechnikov fed Sebastian Aho at the right circle, and Aho quickly dished across to Jarvis. The Winnipeg native fired a wrist shot past Buffalo goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen at 6:10 of the final period for his 22nd goal of the season. The goal capped a strong performance for Carolina’s premier line. Aho, named the game’s top star, finished with two assists. Svechnikov had a goal and an assist, and Jarvis led all skaters with five shots on goal to go with his game-winner. The contest began with an exchange of first-period goals. Buffalo struck first during a scramble in front of the Carolina net. After sustained pressure, Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin collected a loose puck and whipped a wrist shot past Hurricanes goalie Brandon Bussi at 1:33. Jack Quinn and Jason Zucker were credited with assists. Carolina answered just over five minutes later, capitalizing on a relentless forecheck. Aho won a puck battle along the boards and sent it back to defenseman Sean Walker at the point. Walker’s shot was deftly tipped in front by Svechnikov, beating Luukkonen to knot the score at 1-1 at the 7:04 mark. From there, the game settled into a tense, physical battle defined by blocked shots, clogged neutral zones, and stellar goaltending. Both Bussi and Luukkonen were sharp, turning aside numerous quality chances. Luukkonen was particularly busy, making 36 saves, while Bussi stopped 29 of 30 shots for Carolina. The second period was scoreless but featured several penalties, including a pair of coincidental roughing minors to Buffalo’s Dahlin and Carolina’s Svechnikov, who engaged in a running physical feud throughout the night. The Sabres had a golden opportunity to take the lead late in the middle frame when Bowen Byram’s wrist shot clanged off the post behind Bussi. Buffalo’s best offensive weapon, center Tage Thompson, was held off the scoresheet despite firing a game-high seven shots on goal. The Sabres, who entered the afternoon having scored five goals in three of their previous four games, were stifled by Carolina’s defensive structure and a committed shot-blocking effort. The Hurricanes’ penalty kill was flawless, extinguishing all three Buffalo power plays, including one late in the third period that allowed the Sabres to pull Luukkonen for a two-man advantage. Carolina’s defense, led by Jalen Chatfield and Jaccob Slavin, stood firm in the final minutes to preserve the one-goal margin. The result avenged a 4-1 loss for Carolina in Buffalo back in November and continued the Hurricanes’ strong play on home ice. The Sabres, who began a three-game road trip, must regroup quickly as they travel to face the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night. Carolina, which has won seven of its last ten games, will host the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday. The game’s total of three goals fell well under the pregame over/under line of 6.5, highlighting the defensive nature of the contest that contrasted sharply with National Statistical’s game simulator projection of a 4-3 Buffalo victory.

Preview: Sabres, Hurricanes Meet in Raleigh Showdown RALEIGH, N.C. (Interstat) — Two Eastern Conference teams trending in opposite directions will clash Monday afternoon when the Carolina Hurricanes host the Buffalo Sabres at Lenovo Center. The Hurricanes (29-19-0) enter on a high, coming off a dominant 9-1 victory over the Florida Panthers on Friday. That win snapped a brief two-game skid and showcased their explosive offense, led by winger Nikolaj Ehlers. Ehlers was unstoppable against Florida, recording a hat trick and an assist while firing seven shots on goal. He has 11 points (6 goals, 5 assists) in his last 10 games. In contrast, the Sabres (26-21-0) look to rebound from a frustrating 5-4 overtime loss to Minnesota on Saturday. Despite the defeat, center Ryan McLeod continued his strong play, notching a goal and an assist. McLeod has been a consistent producer for Buffalo, accumulating 11 points (4 goals, 7 assists) over his last 10 contests. This matchup is the third and final regular-season meeting between the clubs. The series is split, with each team winning on home ice. Carolina rolled to a 6-3 victory in Raleigh on Nov. 8, but Buffalo answered with a 4-1 win at home on Nov. 23. The Hurricanes hold a standings advantage, sitting with 58 points to Buffalo’s 52. Carolina’s success has been fueled by a potent attack that averages 3.65 goals per game, ranking among the league’s best. Their penalty kill also operates at a top-five efficiency. Buffalo has shown resilience, going 7-3-0 in its last 10 games prior to the Minnesota loss. Their path to victory likely requires containing Carolina’s deep forward group and capitalizing on offensive chances. Goaltending will be critical, as the Sabres have allowed three or more goals in four of their last five outings. For Carolina, maintaining the momentum from their nine-goal outburst while tightening up defensively after a recent stretch of allowing 19 goals over four games will be the focus. Following this contest, Buffalo begins a four-game road trip in Nashville on Tuesday. Carolina remains home to host the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday.