Last night the Sabres got another huge win, heading up the QEW to Toronto and beating one of our biggest rivals 7-4 with Rasmus Dahlin’s first career hat trick!
Tage got the Sabres on the board first 3:52 into the game, dropping the puck behind the net for Benson, then going to the front of the crease to tap in the puck. But after a real quick review by Berube, that goal came off the board for the dumbest thing in hockey, an offsides review. The Leafs then got on the board first, with UPL on the ground after making two quick saves on rebounds, then being on the ice for Matthew Knies to quickly put it in the net, 7:44 into the period to make it 1-0 Toronto. The Sabres tied it a couple minutes later with 10:31 left in the first with Rasmus Dahlin shooting it in transition from down low to setup what looked like a quick tap in for Jason Zucker, but it actually went off Morgan Reilly to credit the captain with the goal. With 9:11 left in the first, Auston Matthews got the Leafs the lead back, with some nice moves to hold the puck, rotating the puck around, then as Max Domi shot the puck from the slot, and Matthews got the rebound, walked around UPL and backhanded it in to make it 2-1 Leafs. Josh Doan tied it up quickly on the power play, on the zone entry, taking it down low and tossing it at the net from a low angle and beating Woll to tie it up with 6:44 left in the game. The Sabres got the lead with 1:55 left in the first, with Tage capitalizing on a turnover from Max Domi on the wall, going through traffic and firing the puck to put the Sabres up 3-2. That one counts, and cashes my Tage/Matthews point parlay early. Fun period of hockey!
The Sabres were far outplaying the Leafs to start the third, but the Leafs tied it up with 8:43 left on a shot from the slot in the rush by Bobby McMann from the slot, hitting the over early as three Sabres defenseman went to cover Matthews. Buffalo took the lead back with 1:43 left in the second, with Dahlin screening Woll and redirecting a Samuelsson shot from the point into the net to put the Sabres up 4-3. Solid period. Gotta hang onto this lead in the last 20 minutes.
Buffalo really quickly added to the lead, with Alex Tuch making it 5-3 just 16 seconds into the third, tossing it on the net down low after missing a bouncing pass initially from Tage. With 8:27 to go in regulation, the Sabres added another insurance goal, with a long high pass from Dahlin setting up Jack Quinn on the zone entry on a quick rip to make it 6-3. What a pass and and what a great shot. The Leafs got back within two win 5:01 left, with Auston Matthews driving to the net getting attention of the Sabres defense, leaving Max Domi open going to the crease from the slot and putting it past Ellis. Rasmus Dahlin completed the first hat trick of his career with 43.4 seconds left in the game on a long range empty netter from the opposite circle all the way down the ice, off the post and in to finish off the game 7-4.
FINAL: Sabres 7, Maple Leafs 4
Another fantastic win for the Sabres as we’ve continued one of the best streaks in franchise history, getting a huge two points against one of the teams chasing us in the standings. We stay in the third playoff spot in the Atlantic and just keep on rolling. Great game too. Buffalo controlled it from start to finish, with an excellent game from Dahlin leading the way. Especially with all the family issues he’s had to deal with this year, it was great to see him get his first hat trick and fuel the win. We’re a wagon!
Let’s Go Buffalo!
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 