It wasn't good. We essentially just gave goals away, again. The first one can't go in, but we were loose on our gap then a turnover with no pressure on us, we just turn it over, and then with six seconds left we don't line up right on a faceoff win and it's in our net.

Ryan McLeod scored three goals for his first career hat trick and the Buffalo Sabres beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 on Wednesday night. Dylan Cozens also scored and Jason Zucker had two assists for the Sabres,

FINAL | Sabres 4 - Hurricanes 2 Lindy Ruff addresses the media Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen addresses the media Dylan Cozens addresses the media Ryan McLeod addresses the media The Sabres conclude their three-game homestand Friday versus the Pittsburgh Penguins. Tickets are available here.

Dylan Cozens and Tage Thompson also scored and Jason Zucker had two assists for the Sabres, who won for the third time in four games. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 35 saves. Jaccob Slavin and Martin Necas scored and Brent Burns had two assists in the Hurricanes’ second straight loss. Dustin Tokarski made 20 saves.

With a rare 6:00 pm start time, the Hurricanes arrived late to the game and Buffalo did not. The Hurricanes didn’t really get to their game until the third and Buffalo took advantage, getting a three-goal lead before the final frame.

McLeod’s hat-trick goal with 24 seconds remaining put the finishing touches on a bend-but-don’t-break performance by the Sabres, who were coming off a loss to Seattle in their most recent game in which goals against compounded into a blown lead.

Ryan McLeod scored his first-career hat trick and the Buffalo Sabres held on for 4-2 win against the visiting Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday.

The Carolina Hurricanes couldn't mount a comeback against the Buffalo Sabres as a Ryan McLeod hat trick was the difference in a 4-2 loss.

Slavin scored a goal in Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the Sabres. Slavin broke up Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen's shutout bid early in the third period. The 30-year-old Slavin has four points over eight outings in January,

Ryan McLeod scored on the first shot of the game, again just before the second period horn, and was awarded an empty-net goal for his first career hat trick in the Sabres’ 4-2 victory against the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday night at KeyBank Center.

Ryan Henkel ([email protected]) is the Site Editor and Reporter for the Carolina Hurricanes team site with The Hockey News. A resident of Raleigh, NC, Henkel has spent the last four years covering the Canes and in his spare time, likes to cook. You can follow him @RyanHenkel_ on Twitter.

Ryan McLeod recorded his first NHL hat trick to lead the Buffalo Sabres to a 4-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday night at KeyBank Center. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 35 saves, and Dylan Cozens also scored for the Sabres (17-22-5), who have rebounded with a 6-3-1 record following a 13-game winless streak (0-10-3).