Right from puck drop on Thursday, the Carolina Hurricanes dominated the Buffalo Sabres. Paul Hamilton shares his postgame thoughts from Buffalo’s 5-2 loss in Carolina:

The Hurricanes scored three first-period goals in a span of 3:32, and though the Sabres had opportunities to rally, their power play failed them in a 5-2 loss at Lenovo Center.

The reeling Hurricanes came home desperately needing to find a way forward. A fight and two early goals — and a two-point night from Mikko Rantanen — did the trick in a 5-2 win over the Sabres.

The Hurricanes jumped out an early lead on Thursday and never looked back. Before the halfway point of the first period Carolina had a 3-0 lead.

Mikko Rantanen had a goal and an assist and the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-2. Jordan Staal, Sebastian Aho, Taylor Hall and Seth Jarvis also scored for Carolina, which had lost its first two games after the league break for the 4 Nations Face-Off.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Mikko Rantanen had a goal and an assist and the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-2 on Thursday night. Jordan Staal, Sebastian Aho, Taylor Hall and Seth Jarvis ...

Mikko Rantanen had a goal and an assist as the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-2 on Thursday night at Raleigh, N.C., winning for only the second time in the past seven games.

Alex Tuch and JJ Peterka scored goals for the Sabres. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made five saves on seven shots in 7:57 before giving way to James Reimer, who stopped 27 of 29 shots in relief. Carolina - the NHL's best team in terms of shot-attempt percentage - led 36-16 in shots on goal.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Mikko Rantanen had a goal and an assist and the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-2 on Thursday night. Jordan Staal, Sebastian Aho, Taylor Hall and Seth Jarvis ...

Jordan Staal, Sebastian Aho ... Alex Tuch and JJ Peterka scored for the Sabres, who lost for just the second time in eight games. Buffalo is 0-9-2 in its past 11 games in Raleigh.