Buffalo has not won in Raleigh against the Hurricanes in seven years
The Buffalo Sabres memories related to the Carolina Hurricanes are always linked to their 2006 Eastern Conference Final series, when Carolina head coach Rod Brind’Amour and Sabres GM Kevyn Adams were teammates on the Canes, who won in seven games with the Sabres playing with a injury-depleted blueline populated with such immortals as Jeff Jillson, Doug Janik, and Nathan Paetsch.
Under Brind’Amour, the Hurricanes snapped a nine-year playoff drought, and have made the Eastern Final twice (2019 and 2023, losing to Florida in four straight), while the Sabres under Adams are looking to snap their dozen-year drought this season.
Buffalo takes on the Hurricanes at PNC Arena in Raleigh on Tuesday, looking to end a losing streak in the Tar Heel state that extends back to March, 2016.
"We've had trouble (here), and when I say that, you can't have trouble for five minutes. You could play 55 really good minutes, and if you have trouble for five, that can be the difference in the game." Sabres head coach Don Granto said on Tuesday. "(Carolina is) a team that plays very direct and very consistent. They hit the repeat button, and they do it for 60 minutes, so you've got to be on your game for the duration."
Granato indicated that he will return to the traditional 12 forward – six defensemen alignment against the Hurricanes, opting to insert Lukas Rousek back into the lineup, and sitting Jacob Bryson. Rookie Ryan Johnson will play in his second NHL game partnered with Rasmus Dahlin (taking the spot of the injured Mattias Samuelsson), while Rousek will skate with Victor Olofsson and Peyton Krebs.
Former Canes first-rounder Jeff Skinner leads the Sabres with six goals and 11 points and will be reunited with Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will get the start after Devon Levi got the victory over Toronto on Saturday.
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