from BuffaloWins.com

For one period, it looked like the Sabres' 41st home opener might be as much of a walk in the park as last week's European vacation - but when the night was over, the 18,690 in attendance at the newly christened First Niagara Center headed home disappointed.

Buffalo opened the scoring during a four-on-four situation 6:58 into the game when Jordan Leopold's shot from the left point was deflected past Carolina goaltender Cam Ward by Thomas Vanek, approximately the four millionth goal Vanek has scored in that fashion.  The goal was originally credited to Derek Roy, who swatted at the puck but didn't touch it until after it crossed the line.  Carolina's Jay Harrison tied the game less than two minutes later with a shot through traffic that Miller didn't appear to see, but Derek Roy banged home a Drew Stafford rebound shortly thereafer, capping off a three-goal, 3:03 span and giving Buffalo the lead once again.  Stafford showed remarkable patience and vision on the play, essentially using Ward's left pad to pass the puck to Roy on a 2-on-1.

And then the special teams follies began.  With Canes defenseman Bryan Allen in the box for knocking Jason Pominville into next week, Vanek fumbled a puck at the blue line and Brandon Sutter took off with it the other way like he was shot from a cannon.  Miller couldn't come up with the save, and just like that, what had been a dominant first period for Buffalo somehow ended in a 2-2 tie with 13 shots for each side.  Another Vanek turnover led to another shorthanded Carolina goal in the second period, this time a 2-on-1 that was scored on a rebound - eerily similar to the Roy goal.

Just when all hope appeared to be lost, Tyler Myers - who had played a mostly poor game rife with turnovers - took charge.  He went through two Hurricanes at the blue line as if they weren't there, then carried the puck to the net and left it lying there for an opportunistic Drew Stafford, who tied the score at 3 with 2:21 left.  But for the third time, Carolina answered a Sabres goal with one of their own in short fashion, taking the lead for good with Jeff Skinner's power play game winner with 1:24 left.

Five-on-five the Sabres played well enough to win, but special teams really let them down. (Understatement of the year right there - I had to resist the temptation to copy and paste "colossal special teams fail" over and over again for this recap.) For the game the Sabres were 0 for 6 on the power play, allowed two shorthanded goals and a power play goal, and gave up at least three shorthanded breakaways that I can recall.  Harrison's goal may as well have been a power play goal too, as he scored exactly as time expired in the man advantage.

The Sabres play next in Pittsburgh on Saturday night.