The Sabres took another pathetic loss at home tonight, losing 6-3 to the Leafs for the twelfth straight loss in what felt like a home game for Toronto down the QEW.
It took just 1:29 into the game for Toronto to get on the board tonight, with Bobby McMann scoring off a two on one with Max Domi that immediately on the zone entry looked to be a goal, delighting all the Leafs fan that “filled” KeyBank Center. Alex Tuch answered right back for the Sabres just 10:3 later to tied the game, getting right in the slot after good puck movement to tie the game at 1-1. They called it a no goal after the fact because of a call for high sticking on Tuch prior to the goal, wiping it off the board and putting the Sabres short handed the next four minutes. Auston Matthews made it 2-0 on the power play capitalizing on a cross ice pace right in front from William Nylander with 13:55 left in the first. Buffalo wasn’t awful after their slow start, actually outshooting the Leafs in the first 9-7, but as someone that bet on Toronto I was fine with the 2-0 score after 20 minutes.
Nick Robertson put Toronto up 3-0 just 1:53 into the second period, walking right in the zone untouched after a Buffalo turnover and beating Luukkonen five hole. The Sabres answered right back 29 seconds later as JJ Peterka on a pretty wild goal, tossing it on goal at a weird angle from the slot going into the left circle after a real nice backhand drop pass behind him from Dylan Cozens. A couple minutes later though, the Leafs took the three goal lead back, chasing UPL out of the net with a beautiful play in transition with a long pass from Marner setting up a two on one in transition with McCann and Domi, finished off with Max Domi ripping the puck past Luukkonen on a quick release. With 9:13 left in the second, Max Pacioretty got right in the crease, redirecting a pass from Nylander into the net to make it a 5-1 blowout. In four on four play, Mattias Samuelsson hit the over on a wrist shot that made it 5-2 with 4:04 left in the second. This team is so fucking pathetic. Almost feel bad for them…almost.
With 8:04 left in regulation, Owen Power made it a two goal game, going to in front of the net to get the loose puck, cashing in on a rebound from Samuelsson to put the Sabres back in the game with a 5-3 score. Power put the Sabres within one with 3:28 to go on a nice rip on a give and go with Dahlin up top. Craig Berube challenged it for goaltender interference. He was correct, taking the goal off the board and swinging it back to a 5-3 game. Nylander ended the game with an empty netter with 19.1 seconds left to win it 6-3.
Game over, twelve straight losses. Leafs fans thrilled to get their cheap night to watch their team win two hours down the QEW.
FINAL: Sabres 3, Maple Leafs 6
The Sabres weren’t so awful tonight but it didn’t matter. As usual, too many mistakes and bad defense that compounded. Buffalo’s the biggest joke in the league.
I won’t have a blog for tomorrow night’s game in Boston, I’m sure it’ll be the lucky number 13th loss.
Please follow me:
Instagram: @atownszone
Twitter: @atownszone
If you like the site and my work, share it with your friends!
… and tell Dave Portnoy to hire me at Barstool…
A Town's Zone 
2 thoughts on “Sabres vs. Maple Leafs: 12/20/24 – Game Reactions/Recap”