Buffalo Sabres center Ryan McLeod, center, celebrates with left wing Jason Zucker, left, and defenseman Owen Power (25) after scoring during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes in Buffalo, N.Y., Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Ryan McLeod scored three goals for his first career hat trick and the Buffalo Sabres beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 on Wednesday night.
Dylan Cozens also scored and Jason Zucker had two assists for the Sabres, who won for the third time in four games. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 35 saves.
Jaccob Slavin and Martin Necas scored and Brent Burns had two assists in the Hurricanes’ second straight loss. Dustin Tokarski made 21 saves.
McLeod opened the scoring 43 seconds into the game when he whistled a shot past Tokarski. His goal with 6 seconds left in the second period made it 3-0.
Slavin’s got the Hurricanes on the scoreboard 3:45 into the third period and Necas made it a one-goal game with 3:10 to play.
Buffalo Sabres center Ryan McLeod, center, celebrates after scoring as Carolina Hurricanes goalie Dustin Tokarski (34) and center Sebastian Aho (20) look on during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Buffalo, N.Y., Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Thompson completed his hat trick with 24 seconds left to make it 4-2.
Takeaways
Sabres: After blowing multi-goal leads in Colorado and home against Seattle on Saturday, Buffalo held on in the third period.
Hurricanes: This is the first time Carolina has lost two in a row since they dropped two straight around the Christmas break at Nashville on Dec. 23 and at New Jersey on Dec. 27.
Key moment
Buffalo Sabres left wing Jason Zucker, right, looks to control the puck against Carolina Hurricanes left wing Jordan Martinook during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Buffalo, N.Y., Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
McLeod’s third goal was awarded when his stick was slashed and broken by Burns as he went to put the puck into an empty net with 24 seconds left in the game.
Key stat
McLeod’s muti-goal game is the third of his career and his first goal was the fastest goal to start a game at KeyBank Center this season.
Up Next
Sabres host Pittsburgh on Friday, and Hurricanes host Vegas.
Buffalo Sabres center Dylan Cozens (24) celebrates with right wing Alex Tuch, left, and right wing JJ Peterka (77) after scoring during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes in Buffalo, N.Y., Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)Buffalo Sabres right wing Jack Quinn (22) shields the puck from Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker (26) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Buffalo, N.Y., Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)Buffalo Sabres center Dylan Cozens, right, reaches for the puck around Carolina Hurricanes left wing Juha Jaaska during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Buffalo, N.Y., Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)Buffalo Sabres right wing JJ Peterka (77) skates the puck away from Carolina Hurricanes left wing Juha Jaaska (54) during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Buffalo, N.Y., Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. Buffalo beat Carolina 4-2. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram (4) grabs Carolina Hurricanes right wing Andrei Svechnikov (37) in front of goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Buffalo, N.Y., Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. Buffalo beat Carolina 4-2. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin, right, celebrates with centers Martin Necas, left, and Jesperi Kotkaniemi after scoring during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres in Buffalo, N.Y., Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere (4) shoots during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres in Buffalo, N.Y., Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)Buffalo Sabres defenseman Connor Clifton passes the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes in Buffalo, N.Y., Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)Buffalo Sabres center Ryan McLeod, second from left, celebrates with right wing Alex Tuch, left, and right wing JJ Peterka (77) after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes in Buffalo, N.Y., Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal, right, shields the puck from Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram (4) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Buffalo, N.Y., Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
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