Welcome back to NHL Predictions. Each day, Last Word on Hockey takes a look at the games that are scheduled and offers insight and analysis to help predict who will be victorious in head-to-head matchups.

Luukkonen will attempt to rebound after stopping just 23 of 28 shots in a 6-2 loss to Seattle on Saturday. He's 13-13-4 with a 3.02 GAA and an .896 save percentage in 31 outings in 2024-25. Carolina ranks sixth in goals per game with 3.34.

Ryan McLeod scored his first-career hat trick and the Buffalo Sabres held on for 4-2 win against the visiting Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday. Dylan Cozens also scored for the Sabres, who have won three of four.

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.

BUFFALO -- Ryan McLeod got his first NHL hat trick in a 4-2 win for the Buffalo Sabres against the Carolina Hurricanes at KeyBank Center on Wednesday. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 34 saves and Dylan Cozens scored for the Sabres (17-22-5), who are 6-3-1 since a 13-game losing streak (0-10-3).

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 35 saves ... Buffalo held on in the third period. Hurricanes: This is the first time Carolina has lost two in a row since they dropped two straight around the Christmas ...

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Ryan McLeod scored two goals and the Buffalo Sabres beat the Carolina Hurricanes ... for the third time in four games. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 35 saves.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 35 saves ... Buffalo Sabres center Ryan McLeod, center, celebrates after scoring as Carolina Hurricanes goalie Dustin Tokarski (34) and center Sebastian Aho (20) look ...

The Carolina Hurricanes will head north to Buffalo for a Wednesday night game against the Sabres. It’s scheduled to start at 6 p.m. ET and you can watch it on TNT and live stream it on DirecTV Stream (FREE trial and discount) or Sling TV (discount). The matchup Wednesday is the season’s first meeting between the two teams.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 35 saves ... Buffalo held on in the third period. Hurricanes: This is the first time Carolina has lost two in a row since they dropped two straight around the Christmas ...

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.

The Carolina Hurricanes couldn't mount a comeback against the Buffalo Sabres as a Ryan McLeod hat trick was the difference in a 4-2 loss.