Jeff Skinner scores against his former team in the 4-3 defeat.
By Kurt Dusterberg / NHL.com Correspondent
RALEIGH, N.C. — Jeff Skinner scored in his first game against the Carolina Hurricanes since being traded, but the Buffalo Sabres lost 4-3 at PNC Arena on Friday.
Sebastian Aho scored twice, Micheal Ferland had a goal and two assists, and Curtis McElhinney made 30 saves for the Hurricanes (21-18-5), who have won six of their past seven games.
Skinner scored his 30th goal of the season, and Carter Hutton made 26 saves for Buffalo (23-15-6), which is 3-6-1 in its past 10 games.
The game also marked the return to the Buffalo lineup of captain Jack Eichel from an injury.
Carolina took a 1-0 lead on Ferland’s 13th goal of the season. The shot hit Hutton and bounced off the top of the net before Sabres defenseman Marco Scandella knocked the puck in the net off his stick.
Skinner batted in a rebound at the top of the crease on a Buffalo power play to make it 1-1 with 21 seconds left.
Justin Williams put the Hurricanes up 2-1 when he drove to the net and lifted a forehand shot on the short side at 4:30 of the second period. Williams has scored one goal in each of the past four games.
Jason Pominville answered with a one-timer from the high slot to make it 2-2 at 5:00, but Aho gave the Hurricanes a 3-2 lead when his centering pass went in off the skate of Rasmus Dahlin at 5:42.
Aho scored on a wraparound that deflected off Buffalo defenseman’s Jake McCabe’s stick for a 4-2 lead at 12:27.
Kyle Okposo scored at 16:48 of the third period to make it 4-3.