In Toronto, the Buffalo Sabres rallied from a 2-0 deficit to the Maple Leafs on Monday night with a goal in the middle frame and three in the third period en route to a 4-3 win.
Alex Tuch scored two of the three goals in the third period for the Sabres.
“I thought we just got back to trying to work and make simple plays and then one line after another and another,” Tuch said. “It makes a huge difference out there, especially in the second period with those long changes. So, if you can hem a line in for one, two changes, it’s huge. It causes a lot of disruption in their lines, especially if you have their top guys out getting tired or their top guys sitting on the bench not being able to play. So I think it helps a lot, and it’s little things like that that really create momentum and allow you to just roll it over.”
Craig Anderson made 25 saves in the Buffalo win.
The Sabres moved to 33-28-5 after snapping a four-game skid and eight schneid.
“Tonight was important for us because we played really well the other night (2-1 overtime loss to the New York Rangers on Saturday) and didn’t get a win and didn’t get the reward of the work,” Sabres coach Don Granato said. “We’ve talked a lot about the work being defending, defending the right way and playing the right way. Tonight it wasn’t working on the scoreboard halfway through the game, but sticking with the process … again, the chatter on the bench, there was no emotion, no extra wasted energy anywhere. They were dialed in. This group knows they can score. We’re trying to sell that other side to them and believe in that confidence. Obviously, it came through tonight.”
After a scoreless first period, Auston Matthews and Calle Jarnkrok scored to stake the Maple Leafs to a 2-0 advantage.
Matthews at 1:11 of the middle frame, and Jarnkrok hit at 4:13.
“All those plays were on us (not Murray), just losing coverage, not being hard on pucks, and just giving them too much leeway to get to our net to get quality shots off and opportunities,” Matthews said.
Buffalo trimmed the advantage to 2-1 on a strike from Jack Quinn with 15 minutes gone in the period.
Toronto dropped to 40-18-8.
“We got two goals early in the (second) period, puts us in a good spot,” Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. “I didn’t think we took care of it very well from there and then just allowed it to snowball. When you don’t exit out of your zone cleanly, they get rolling and they get momentum, and now you’re tired and you can’t play your game. … I thought we played better in the third. Our second period was our worst period by far, maybe of the season to be honest.”
In the third stanza, Tuch tied the game, 2-2, at 3:39.
Buffalo took the lead, 3-2, on a marker from Dylan Cozens.
Tuch then picked up his double at 11:19 of the period for a 4-2 lead.
Tuch’s second goal would prove to be the game-winner.
William Nylander hit for a goal with 62 seconds left on the game clock for the 4-3 final.
“Just 50-50 battles,” Matthews said. “I think just a little careless with the puck at times, and obviously they made good on some of their chances and we didn’t. They tilted the ice their way, and we were just chasing it from that point.”
Matt Murray made 25 saves in the Maple Leafs loss.
You must be logged in to post a comment.