Peterka's 23:37 of ice time was the most that he's played in his 200 NHL games. The winger totaled five shots on goal with eight shot attempts, and he had two assists.

Ryan McLeod scored three goals for his first career hat trick and the Buffalo Sabres beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2.

FINAL | Sabres 4 - Hurricanes 2 Lindy Ruff addresses the media Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen addresses the media Dylan Cozens addresses the media Ryan McLeod addresses the media The Sabres conclude their three-game homestand Friday versus the Pittsburgh Penguins. Tickets are available here.

Zucker’s net-front residence has yielded offense at both 5-on-5 and on a resurgent Buffalo power play. Since Dec. 21, with Zucker a regular on the top unit, the Sabres have gone 9-for-28 (32 percent) with the man advantage, seventh best in the NHL during that span.

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Two-point effort against Caps

Alex Tuch and JJ Peterka each scored goals in both regulation and the shootout to lead the Buffalo Sabres to a 4-3 win over the Washington Capitals at KeyBank Center on Monday.

The Sabres did not make changes to their first line, as it once again was made up of Jason Zucker, Dylan Cozens, and Tage Thompson. However, the second line had a new look, as Ryan McLeod jumped up to the second-line center role, with JJ Peterka and Alex Tuch as his wingers.

Jason Zucker was an outstanding signing ... They’ve missed on too many trades and free-agent signings. Cozens, JJ Peterka and Jack Quinn look worse under this coach. There’s a chance that ...

Brady Tkachuk, the Senators captain, made the first impactful play with a hit from behind on Jason Zucker that caused ... real good fit there with him and JJ (Peterka). That line has created ...

The Carolina Hurricanes are on the road to play the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday, Jan. 15, at 6 p.m. EST. Carolina (26-15-3) is coming off a 3-2 OT loss to Anaheim. Buffalo (16-22-5) is coming off a 6-2 loss to Seattle in a game they led 2-0.

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff swapped Ryan McLeod and Dylan Cozens atop the lineup during the win over the Hurricanes, a move that paid immediate dividends with both players scoring goals on their new lines.