It took a late slapshot goal by Jay Harrison and an empty-net goal by Jeff Skinner to break a 1-1 tie and give the Carolina Hurricanes a 3-1 win at Buffalo but the star of the game was a back-up goalie.

Dan Ellis, who played for the Charlotte Checkers while the NHL players’ strike dragged on, had 40 saves in his first start with the Canes. It was the second night in a row that the Hurricanes topped the Sabres and the win evens Carolina’s record at 2-2.

“Our “d” (defensive players) were phenomenal at boxin’ out,” Ellis said. “It makes a goalie’s job so much easier.”

He pointed out that the game-winner even came from a defenseman (Harrison).

“We’ve been shaking a little bit of the rust off and we’re going to continue to get better,” Ellis said. “We’re finding our identity. We’re starting to play hard. We’ve had a little more grit the last two games. That comes from knowing your system and applying it the way that we can.”

Ellis, 32, has been a No. 1 goalie and a backup before. He’s coming back from a career-threatening injury and appears to be setting himself up as a key element on this Hurricanes team.

Alexander Semin scored his first goal for the Hurricanes to tie the score at 1-1 in the third period.