The Canes gave up the first goal just 43 seconds into the game and lost, 4-2 in Buffalo. That goal set the tone for the game as the Hurricanes really never got anything going offensively. Andrei Svechnikov had a breakaway chance in the early part of the 2nd period that he failed to convert and that proved costly as Dylan Cozens scored off a Jaccob Slavin turnover at the other end to make it 2-0. Then, Ryan McLeod's second goal of the game, with just over 3 seconds left in the period, made it 3-0. Jaccob Slavin and Martin Necas would give the Hurricanes a chance with 3rd period goals, but the Sabres made it 4-2 with an empty net goal that was awarded when Brent Burns committed a penalty as McLeod was attempting to score. McLeod registered his first career hat trick. Dustin Tokarski gave up 3 goals in the loss.