Tonight wasn’t the cleanest game, but Alex Tuch was the hero in the shootout for the Sabres to beat the Leafs 3-2 at home to bounce back from Thursday’s loss and extend our lead at the top of the Atlantic.

Owen Power got the Sabres on the board very quickly, 2:01 into the game, with Zach Benson throwing it from below the goal line out in front to an open Owen Power in the slot who ripped it past Woll to give us the 1-0 lead. Blow Leafs Blow. Dakota Joshua tied it up with 13:51 left in the first, with a brutal turnover in the slot by Schenn on a fanned backhand for a failed clear. Not long after, the next shift that both guys were out on the ice, Schenn dropped the gloves and fought Joshua to make up for it. I thought the Sabres looked great early, but got sloppier as the period continued, letting Toronto back in it.

The Leafs took a 2-1 lead, just 53 seconds into the second period, with William Nylander being patient with the puck on a two on one, pulling Lyon out of the net and then setting up Max Domi on the open net with a beautiful pass across the crease to give Toronto the lead. On the power play with 8:39, the Sabres had some great passing, with Ostlund on a no look pass from the crease setting up Jack Quinn to fire it short side to tie it up. Much better period for the Sabres, especially as time went on.

With no goals with both teams getting plenty of chances, we go to overtime tied up at 2. Some good looks in OT too, but onto a shootout.

Tage went first, missing the net far side on his shot. William Nylander got stuffed by Lyon. Jack Quinn got the Sabres on the board with a nice slide, under the blocker arm of Woll. Easton Cowen missed the net, leaving Alex Tuch with the game on his stick, and with a beauty little deke, the Sabres win it!

FINAL: Sabres 3, Maple Leafs 2

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It wasn’t the cleanest win for the Sabres, but huge two points to extend our Atlantic Division lead tonight at home. We outshot the Leafs 33-18 and doubled them up on shots, 26-13. Just sloppy at points of this game to let the Leafs stay in it. Schenn’s turnover was awful, and the offense while peppering Woll struggled to beat him, but hey, they don’t ask you how you win, just get the W.

Let’s go Buffalo!

On the road to Vegas on Tuesday.

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