BUFFALO (Reuters) - Cam Ward stopped 40 shots for his third shutout of the season as the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Buffalo Sabres 1-0 on Tuesday and closed in on the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Brandon Sutter scored in the final minute of the first period and Ward did the rest to help the Hurricanes snap a four-game losing streak and pull within two points of the Sabres for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East.
"These are huge games; we knew that coming in here. (Buffalo is) a team we need to catch and it was a big win for us tonight," Carolina captain Eric Staal told reporters. "It was two great goaltenders. We're just happy to be on the right end of it."
Buffalo had their chances, including 22 shots in the first period, but could not break through as the eighth-place team fell dangerously close to being caught by Carolina (32-28-10) in the standings.
The two teams will meet again on April 3 in Carolina.
Ryan Miller made 32 saves on Tuesday but the Sabres (34-28-8) lost for the third time in five games.
Buffalo was 0-for-3 on power-play opportunities as they suffered their fifth shutout loss of the season.
"It comes down to putting your chances away," Miller said. "All in all, it was a good hockey game, but not the side we wanted to be on."
Brandon Sutter scored in the final minute of the first period and Ward did the rest to help the Hurricanes snap a four-game losing streak and pull within two points of the Sabres for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East.
"These are huge games; we knew that coming in here. (Buffalo is) a team we need to catch and it was a big win for us tonight," Carolina captain Eric Staal told reporters. "It was two great goaltenders. We're just happy to be on the right end of it."
Buffalo had their chances, including 22 shots in the first period, but could not break through as the eighth-place team fell dangerously close to being caught by Carolina (32-28-10) in the standings.
The two teams will meet again on April 3 in Carolina.
Ryan Miller made 32 saves on Tuesday but the Sabres (34-28-8) lost for the third time in five games.
Buffalo was 0-for-3 on power-play opportunities as they suffered their fifth shutout loss of the season.
"It comes down to putting your chances away," Miller said. "All in all, it was a good hockey game, but not the side we wanted to be on."
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire