Faulk scores twice to help Hurricanes top Sabres

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Justin Faulk scored two goals, ending a 24-game drought, and Cam Ward made 20 saves to lift the Carolina Hurricanes to a 4-2 win against the Buffalo Sabres at PNC Arena on Saturday.
"I wasn't really doubting myself too much, I guess," said Faulk, who entered Saturday with one goal in 34 games. "I knew I could still score goals. I just had to capitalize sometimes."

Ward won for the seventh time in his past eight decisions, and Teuvo Teravainen had three assists for Carolina (16-12-7), which has won five of its past six games.
WATCH: [All Sabres vs. Hurricanes highlights]
Nathan Beaulieu and Zemgus Girgensons scored, and Chad Johnson made 24 saves for the Sabres (9-20-7), who began a stretch of seven straight games away from Buffalo.
The Hurricanes scored on the first shift of the game. Carolina controlled the puck in the offensive zone and Sebastian Aho spun in the slot and scored on a shot off Zach Bogosian for a 1-0 lead at 33 seconds.

"There was lots directed at the net, finally we got one through," Hurricanes coach Bill Peters said. "That was the way we wanted to start, and I think it was a little contagious."
Carolina extended the lead to 2-0 on a 5-on-3 at 1:53 of the second period. Elias Lindholm's pass across the slot deflected in off Jordan Staal's skate for his 10th of the season. Teravainen started the play with a diagonal pass from the right point.

"We used everyone out there on the ice and everybody was available," said Teravainen, who leads the Hurricanes with 28 points. "I think we were skating hard, the battle level was hard."
Beaulieu made it 2-1 on a back-door tap-in from Johan Larsson at 2:44 for his first goal of the season. Faulk took a pass from Aho and finished a 2-on-1 at 4:35 for a 3-1 lead.
Faulk scored his second at 11:16 when his shot from above the right face-off circle beat Johnson below the crossbar for a 4-1 edge.
"If I can get back to playing with the puck more, making plays and not just looking to get rid of it, the sooner I'm at my best," Faulk said. "I've been able to do that the last few games, I think."
Girgensons made it 4-2 at 13:41 after Jack Eichel won a face-off then fed him at the top of the crease.

"They were physical, we didn't match that," Buffalo coach Phil Housley said. "They competed, we didn't match that. We were slow, they looked fast. As a result, it was coming back at us."

Goal of the game

Faulk's goal at 4:35 of the second period.

Save of the game

Ward's save on Evander Kane at 15:57 of the first period.

Highlight of the game

Beaulieu's goal at 2:44 of the second period.

They said it

"I feel bad for Chad (Johnson). He gave us another excellent game. We just didn't give him the support he needed. Every time he's stepped in for some reason, we've sort of left him hung out to dry. We're not playing well in front of him." -- Sabres coach Phil Housley on Johnson's 1-6-3 record
"I'm just enjoying it. You have a new-found appreciation for the game when you're not playing as much and trying to take advantage of the opportunities that you're given. We've got a great group of guys, and it makes it fun coming to the rink and competing with one another." -- Hurricanes goalie Cam Ward

Need to know

Eichel has six points (three goals, three assists) in the past two games against Carolina. ... The Sabres are 2-5-2 in the second game of back-to-back sets this season. … The Hurricanes won 45 of 60 face-offs. ... Faulk had a season-high seven shots on goal and 10 shot attempts. ... Sabres center Ryan O'Reilly missed the game to be with his wife, who gave birth to their son.

What's next

Sabres:At the New York Islanders on Wednesday (7 p.m. ET; MSG+, MSG-B, NHL.TV)
Hurricanes:Host the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday (7 p.m. ET; TSN2, RDS, FS-CR, NHL.TV)