Luukkonen makes 29 saves, Sabres defeat Hurricanes
Tage Thompson extended his goal streak to six games, and Ryan McLeod had two assists for the Sabres (9-9-4), who have won four of their past five.
“It’s going to be hard games. This has to be our minimum,” Buffalo captain Rasmus Dahlin said. “This is how we have to play every night. It’s competing, it’s skating, it’s doing the little things right, work for the team. That’s got to be our bare minimum. Then we can improve some other things.”
Shayne Gostisbehere scored, and Frederik Andersen made 17 saves for the Hurricanes (14-6-2), whose five-game point streak ended (3-0-2).
Carolina played without captain Jordan Staal because of an illness.
“I’ll try to keep it PG here — not very good,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “I could feel right from the start we were just flat. No excuses, part of that schedule, long road trip, fighting the flu bug a little here; the energy was just so dead, and we played like it.”
Alex Tuch gave Buffalo a 1-0 lead on a power play at 5:51 of the first period. He was uncovered at the back door to receive a pass from McLeod through the slot, which he buried into a wide-open side of the net.
Gostisbehere’s power-play goal tied it 1-1 at 14:36. With a scramble at the crease and Luukkonen out of position, Mattias Samuelsson’s clearing attempt went to Gostisbehere, who scored from the left face-off circle.
“Just executing, getting pucks to the net, and good things will happen,” Gostisbehere said.
Jack Quinn put the Sabres ahead 2-1 at 3:55 of the second period when he took a pass from McLeod at the front of the net and directed it under the bar for his fifth goal of the season.
