RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Elias Lindholm scored three goals to lead the Carolina Hurricanes past the Buffalo Sabres 5-1 in a preseason game Friday night.

Nathan Gerbe had a goal and an assist, and Lindholm and Jeff Skinner scored 59 seconds apart in the second period for the Hurricanes.

Andrej Sekera added two assists for Carolina, which scored three goals in the second period while going up 4-0.

Jake McCabe scored the Sabres’ goal.

Cam Ward made 19 saves for Carolina while Michal Neuvirth stopped 32 shots for Buffalo.

Lindholm, Carolina’s first-round pick in 2013, scored his first goal by whipping a rebound past Neuvirth to make it 2-0 at 3:46 of the second, moments before Skinner’s one-timer from Gerbe.

Lindholm’s second goal came with 9:57 left in the second and made it 4-0. He completed the hat trick by scoring into an empty net with 3:56 left.

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