The Leafs were the better team in the first period as we were outshot 12-3 but Craig Anderson made plenty of very good saves to keep the game tied up at zero. Not too bad and we’ll take that all day.
The Leafs scored first, just 1:11 into the second period with Auston Matthews cleaning up the rebound after Anderson made the intial save on a two on one that Marner and Kerfoot had. Cole Jarnkork made it 2-0 Leafs shooting a nicely placed screened puck five hole past Craig Anderson. Jack Quinn cut the Lead in half putting the Sabres on the board with 5:01 left in the second period, chipping in the bouncing puck right in front of Matt Murray. Big goal. Much better period for the Sabres, and despite giving up two goals, we outshot the Leafs 16-3, but two of those shots obviously went in. The biggest complaint I had was that the Sabres gave up too many odd man rushes to a lethal Toronto offense, who scored both of their goals on odd man rushes.
Alex Tuch made his comeback from injury tonight and after an absolutely beautiful backhand pass with two guys on him from Tage Thompson, Tuchy scored to tie up the game at two, 3:39 into the third. With 10:21 left in regulation, Dylan Cozens got his own rebound to give the Sabres our first lead of the game, making it 3-2 Buffalo. Tuchy scored his second of the game on the power play, right in front of the net, making his pressence back in the lineup know, making it 4-2 Sabres with 8:40 left in the game. How we missed Alex Tuch. With 1:01 left, after a giveaway going for the open net, Matthews took the puck, got it to William Nylander and cashed the over making it a 4-3 game.
Huge win.
Final: Sabres 4, Maple Leafs 3
Really good game for the Sabres as we outplayed the Leafs by an expected goal rate of 3.53-1.96. It was awesome getting Alex Tuch back in the lineup and he contributed big time with two goals for the win. We just slightly outshot the Leafs 29-28 and had 13 scoring chances to Toronto’s eleven. Great way to get out of the losing streak in Toronto against a really good team in the Leafs.
Back at it on Wednesday in Washington, DC to face the Caps.
Go Sabres!
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