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Hurricanes face Sabres looking to stay on top in Southeast

Dec 1, 2007 - 2:19 PM Carolina (14-9-3) at Buffalo (11-11-1) 7:00 pm EST

BUFFALO, New York (Ticker) - The Carolina Hurricanes haven't been playing much like division leaders of late, but still can lay claim to being the best in the Southeast.

The Hurricanes entered Friday's game with Washington having won only two of their last seven games, but got back on the winning track with a 4-3 win over the last-place Capitals. Carolina captain Rod Brind'Amour had a pair of goals as the team was held to a season-low 19 shots.

Brind'Amour is the only player with points in each of the Hurricanes' 14 victories.

The teams have met once so far this season with Carolina posting a 6-2 victory at home on October 24 on the strength of goals from six different players. The Sabres went 4-0 last season against the Hurricanes, who missed the playoffs by four points a year after winning the Stanley Cup.

Buffalo last played on Wednesday, dropping a 4-3 decision at home to St. Louis. The Sabres entered the third period with the lead, but allowed three goals over the final 20 minutes as their five-game winning streak came to an end.

The game marked the return of right wing Drew Stafford, who had missed the three previous games with a shoulder injury. Buffalo is currently last in the Northeast, but only trails Toronto by just one point.