Two goals in the third period helped the Buffalo Sabres defeat the Maple Leafs, Monday night, 3-2, in Toronto.
“As a division rival, you’re playing in Toronto, they’re an Original Six team, there’s a lot of things that go into it, but I just like that we stuck with it the whole game,” Sabres coach Phil Housley said. “We played 60 minutes. There were times where we didn’t like 
the way we played, but we did correct it and right the ship in the third period.”
Chad Johnson made 39 saves to pick up the win for the Sabres.
“It’s a little bit, I wouldn’t say panic, but I always like to prepare more,” Johnson said. “I love to go through the routine, but it’s just part of the game. I’ve played a lot of games here, played a lot of hockey, so you just kind of rely on that experience, get your mind ready and play. Obviously, I don’t like that situation knowing that late, but that’s just what happens.”
Jack Eichel had two strikes in the win including the game-winner midway through the third period.
“It goes to show if we do it the right way and all compete together, there were times where they had us on our heels but we figured out a way to get a win, and that’s what matters,” Eichel said.
The Leafs, who were looking to gain ground in the Atlantic Division race, got goals from Nazem Kadri and Patrick Marleau.
Toronto dropped to 45-24-7.
[WATCH:Â All Sabres vs. Maple Leafs highlights]
Frederik Andersen made 24 saves in taking the loss.
“Our turnovers in the first period in our own zone, I thought we were a little bit loose,” Leafs head coach Mike Babcock said. “We’ve got to hit the net; we had so many opportunities in the offensive zone and failed to hit the net. We missed the net. [The stats page] says 26 times we missed the net, so, I mean, that would be part of it too. In the end, we had every opportunity to win; we were a little too loose and we didn’t win.”
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