Ryan McLeod achieved his first career hat trick, leading the Buffalo Sabres to a 4-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. The game showcased a solid performance from McLeod, who scored three goals, including one just 43 seconds into the match and another with only seconds remaining in the game. Teammate Dylan Cozens also contributed with a goal, while Jason Zucker provided two assists. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was notable in goal for the Sabres, making 35 saves.

Despite the loss, the Hurricanes had goals from Jaccob Slavin and Martin Necas, but it wasn't enough to overcome Buffalo. The Sabres demonstrated resilience, holding onto their lead after previous games where they had squandered multi-goal advantages. The defeat marked Carolina's second consecutive loss, a rarity for the team since late December.