Hurricanes 1 - 0 Sabres
Final
  for this game

Ward, Hurricanes rattle Sabres

Mar 16, 2011 - 4:28 AM Buffalo, NY (Sports Network) - Brandon Sutter scored the lone goal of the contest and Cam Ward was sensational, turning aside 40 shots to record his third shutout of the season, as the Carolina Hurricanes held on for a 1-0 win over the Buffalo Sabres at HSBC Arena.

Derek Joslin and Chad LaRose each had an assist for the Hurricanes, who snapped a four-game slide and stayed alive for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Ward notched his 15th career shutout.

Carolina, with 74 points, moved to within two of the Sabres for eighth place.

Ryan Miller was the hard-luck loser, stopping 32 shots for Buffalo, which has dropped three of its last five.

"I thought both goaltenders were very good," said Hurricanes forward Eric Staal. "They made some unbelievable saves on both sides. Cam (Ward) was a difference-maker for sure."

The only goal of the contest came in a wide-open first period.

Despite the firewagon pace, the game stayed scoreless until Carolina got on the board late in the stanza. Joslin's point shot was blocked in front, but Sutter gathered the puck and backhanded it home with 43 seconds remaining.

Buffalo outshot the Hurricanes, 22-13, in the opening 20 minutes.

"We had good chances," said Buffalo head coach Lindy Ruff. "That first period, there were plenty of opportunities."

After a scoreless second period, each side had chances in the third with neither able to light the lamp.

Buffalo came up empty on two power-play opportunities, then Carolina's Erik Cole was stopped on a clear cut breakaway with nearly eight minutes to play, as Miller was up to the task and kept it a one-goal game.

The Sabres pulled Miller in favor of the extra attacker in the waning moments, but were unable to sustain any pressure around the Carolina net, and the 'Canes held on for two points.

Game Notes

The Hurricanes announced earlier on Tuesday that rookie defenseman Jamie McBain will be out indefinitely with an upper-body injury...Carolina snapped a four-game road losing skid and improved to 14-17-6 as the visiting team this season...Buffalo fell to 15-16-3 as the host.






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