Pre-game
*Buffalo is 68-61-29 all-time in the first game of a home-and-home series and 79-56-22 in the second game. They have swept the pair 32 times and lost both games 25 times, splitting the other 100. (Source: Elias Sports Bureau)
*The Sabres have gotten at least half of the available points in the season series against the Hurricanes every year since going 1-2-1 in 2005-06. A loss tonight would snap that streak.
*Thomas Vanek is the first player in franchise history to have eight points in the first three games of the season.
After 1st period: CAR 0 – BUF 0
*The scoreless period is the second of Buffalo’s 10 periods played so far this year. The other was the first period of last night’s game between these two teams.
*Cody Hodgson is 6-for-8 (75 percent) on faceoffs; he is the only Sabres player above 50 percent.
*Buffalo was 10-11-5 when tied after the first period last season; they are 0-1-0 this season.
*Carolina was 13-10-7 when tied after the first period last season; they are 1-0-0 this season.
After 2nd period: CAR 0 – BUF 0
*The Sabres are out-hitting the Hurricanes, 25-12. Robyn Regehr leads all Sabres with five hits tonight.
*Both teams are 0-for-3 on the power play. Buffalo has eight power play shots to Carolina’s four.
*Buffalo was 10-7-7 last season when entering the third period tied; Carolina was 10-11-7.
Final: CAR 3 – BUF 1
*Thomas Vanek is the first Sabres player to record nine points in the first four game of the season since Brian Campbell did it in 2007-08. No Buffalo player has ever recorded more than nine. Source: Elias Sports Bureau
*Vanek has been on the ice for all 11 of Buffalo’s goals this season, getting a point on nine of them. Pominville has been on the ice for nine, tallying a point on eight.
*Jason Pominville has recorded at least one assist in each of the Sabres’ four games this season.
*The Sabres were swept in a home-and-home series for the 26th time in 158 sets.
*Buffalo lost a game in which they totaled more than 40 shots on goal for the first time since 12/22/11 at TOR (3-2 L, 42 shots).
*Andrej Sekera led all Sabres skaters with 22:18 TOI.
