Aho, Staal help Hurricanes beat Sabres to earn playoff spot


              Carolina Hurricanes' Sebastian Aho (20) controls the puck in front of Buffalo Sabres' Tage Thompson (72) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, April 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
            
              Carolina Hurricanes' Sebastian Aho (20) protests the lack of a call during the second period of the team's NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, April 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
            
              Buffalo Sabres' Kyle Okposo (21) moves the puck past Carolina Hurricanes' Brady Skjei (76) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, April 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
            
              Buffalo Sabres' Jacob Bryson (78) tips the puck away from Carolina Hurricanes' Teuvo Teravainen (86) with Sabres' Kyle Okposo (21) defending during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, April 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
            
              Buffalo Sabres' Jacob Bryson (78), Jeff Skinner (53) celebrate with Alex Tuch (89), who scored during the first period of the team's NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, April 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
            
              Buffalo Sabres' Dylan Cozens (24) controls the puck around Carolina Hurricanes' Jordan Staal (11) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, April 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
            
              Buffalo Sabres' Dylan Cozens (24) maintains control of the puck between Carolina Hurricanes' Brendan Smith (7) and Ian Cole (28) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, April 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
            
              Carolina Hurricanes' Nino Niederreiter (21) protects the puck from Buffalo Sabres' Jeff Skinner (53) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, April 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
            
              Carolina Hurricanes' Sebastian Aho (20) celebrates his goal against the Buffalo Sabres during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, April 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
Aho, Staal help Hurricanes beat Sabres to earn playoff spot