RALEIGH, N.C. -- Evander Kane and Johan Larsson scored one minute apart late in the third period as the Buffalo Sabres rallied to defeat the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 on Tuesday night to sweep the season series.
It appeared as if Carolina (31-28-14) was poised for the win after Joakim Nordstrom scored with 6:20 left -- just six seconds after Carolina killed off a double-minor penalty to Brad Malone.
But less than three minutes later, Kane was left alone in front of Cam Ward to score his 20th goal of the season to tie it at 2. Larsson then notched the winner with 2:49 left, his seventh goal of the season as Buffalo (30-34-10) won its 30th game for the first time since 2011-12.
The Hurricanes, who have allowed just one power-play goal in the last 11 games, killed off the double minor to Malone just before Nordstrom's winner. The left winger took a pass off the rush from Jordan Staal, spun away from Buffalo defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen and beat Chad Johnson with a high shot from the slot.
But then Carolina's young defense broke down in front of Ward and Buffalo posted its second win over Carolina in 10 days.
Carlo Colaiacovo gave the Sabres a 1-0 lead with 7:38 left in the first period on just the team's third shot on goal in the period. His point blast deflected off the stick of Malone and past Ward. It was Colaiacovo's first goal of the season, his first since April 7, 2015, and just his 34th in 468 career games.
Chris Terry tied the score off a rush for Carolina midway through the second period, taking a pass from defenseman Noah Hanifin and one-timing a shot past Johnson for his seventh goal of the season.
NOTES: The Hurricanes are 6-7-5 without All-Star D Justin Faulk, who has missed more than a month with a high ankle sprain. ... Buffalo rookie Jack Eichel, who scored both game-winning goals against Carolina earlier this season, returned to the lineup after missing Saturday's game with an illness. ... Carolina recalled C Derek Ryan on Monday. He scored a goal in his NHL debut on March 1 but was returned to the minors after just two games. ... G Cam Ward eclipsed 32,000 minutes in his NHL career -- all with the Hurricanes. ... Buffalo G Chad Johnson is 7-1 against Carolina.
