Sparks were flying early at the Lenovo Center during Whalers Night on Thursday evening. Immediately after the opening puck drop in the first period, Buffalo Sabres forward Dylan Cozens and Carolina Hurricanes center Jesperi Kotkaniemi dropped their gloves and began exchanging some big punches.

Kotkaniemi snapped a five-game scoreless streak with a secondary assist on Taylor Hall's first goal with the Hurricanes. Perhaps the 24-year-old turned a corner Thursday - despite picking up a fighting major in the first four seconds of the game that limited his ice time to 11:53,

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.

Playing their first home game in 19 days, the fireworks started right off the opening face-off as Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Dylan Cozens dropped the gloves. In an effort to fire up his team amid their recent struggles, Kotkaniemi's impromptu scrap worked to perfection, instigating a trio of tallies just 3:32 apart shortly thereafter.

The Canadiens have conceded 194 total goals (3.4 per game), ranking 29th in NHL action in goals against. The team’s -28 goal differential ranks 27th in the league. The Canadiens have not shut ...

Defensively, the Sabres are conceding 188 total goals (3.4 per game) to rank 23rd in NHL action. With a goal differential of -8, the team is 17th in the league. The Sabres are looking for their ...