A great start, but a lousy finish for the Sabres in their home opener Friday night at First Niagara Center. With all the additions to the lineup, the improvements to the arena and after such a great start to the season in Europe, the sell-out crowd was geared up to be treated to something special. But every time the Sabres scored a goal the Hurricanes would answer. Drew Stafford nearly brought the house down when he tied the game late in the third period after a great play by defenseman Tyler Myers, but less than a minute later the Hurricanes took the lead again with a power play goal and held on for a 4-3 victory.

Thomas Vanek and Derek Roy had the other Buffalo goals while Ryan Miller starting his third straight game in net stopped 30 of 34 shots to take the loss. The Sabres special teams really let them down. They were 0 for 7 on the power play while giving up two shorthanded goals and nearly gave up a third when a shot hit the post on a 2 on 1 break.
The Sabres are in Pittsburgh Saturday night and play three more on the road after that before returning home October 25th for the first of five straight games at home.

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