For the first time in five games, the Buffalo Sabres did not come away with at least one point Tuesday night falling in Toronto to the Maple Leafs 5-3.
The first two periods were a struggle for the Sabres offensively as they were left off the score sheet. Buffalo would only get five shots on goal in the opening period.
Toronto jumped out to a 3-0 lead that started just 2:30 into the 1st period when Sabres defenseman Brandon Montour turned the puck over right in front of the net. Montour's attempt to dump the puck out of the defensive zone was intercepted by Maple Leafs forward Frederik Gauthier who put the puck past Sabres goaltender Linus Ullmark.
Ullmark would stop Toronto's 10 other shots on goal to keep the score 1-0 heading into the first intermission.
Sabres forward Jack Eichel has been the talk of the league throughout the NHL over the last month but Leafs forward Auston Matthews stole the show in the 2nd period. Matthews scored his 20th and 21st goals of the season leaving Buffalo to make up significant ground in the final period.
Just 1:29 into the 3rd period, Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin would score on the power-play, pulling the game within two. Dahlin's shot from the blue-line was set up by Eichel's pass from the left faceoff circle.
The assist for the Sabres captain made it 17-straight games where he records at least one point.
The streak is longest currently across the entire NHL. If Eichel were to extend his streak to 18-games, it would tie the Sabres longest streak, belonging to Gilbert Perreault.
Less than four minutes after the first goal of the night for Buffalo, Maple Leafs forward Dmytro Timashov would get it right back for Toronto, making it 4-1.
The Sabres made things interesting, fighting back with two straight goals from Eichel and forward Kyle Okposo that would make it just a one-goal deficit with a few minutes to go in the game.
Unfortunately, it was too little too late. The Maple Leafs would score their fifth and game-sealing goal with a little over two minutes to go.
Up next for Buffalo, they will head to Philadelphia for a Thursday night matchup with the Flyers. Puck drop is set for 7 PM.
GAME SUMMARY
Goal Summary:
First Period:
BUF: NONETOR: 2:30 - Frederik Gauthier (4) (Unassisted)
Second Period:
BUF: NONETOR: 4:47 - Auston Matthews (20) (Morgan Rielly, Mitch Marner); 17:39 - Auston Matthews (21) (William Nylander, Tyson Barrie)
Third Period:
BUF: 1:29 - Rasmus Dahlin (2) PPG (Jack Eichel, Victor Olofsson); 6:30 - Jack Eichel (24) (Victor Olofsson, Sam Reinhart); 14:41 - Kyle Okposo (4) (Conor Sheary, Rasmus Dahlin)TOR: 4:58 - Dmytro Timashov (3) (Tyson Barrie, Frederik Gauthier); 17:26 - Ilya Mikheyev (6) SH, ENG (Unassisted)
Penalty Summary:
First Period:
BUF: NONETOR: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: 12:06 - Zemgus Girgensons (Hooking - 2 min.)TOR: 19:47 - John Tavares (Holding the stick - 2 min.)
Third Period:
BUF: NONETOR: 15:31 - Zach Hyman (Holding - 2 min.)
Shots on Goal:
BUF: 30 (5, 10, 15)TOR: 33 (11, 13, 9)
Goalies:
BUF: Linus Ullmark - 28 savesTOR: Frederik Andersen - 27 saves
Power Plays:
BUF: 1 for 2 (50%)TOR: 0 for 1 (0%)
Three Stars:
Auston Matthews - TOR
Jack Eichel - BUF
Tyson Barrie - TOR
