Toronto, Ontario (WGR 550/WBEN) - It was a back-and-forth affair on "Hockey Night in Canada", but the Buffalo Sabres managed to stay one step ahead of the Maple Leafs throughout the night, downing their Atlantic Division rival, 6-4, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
Alex Tuch was one of five different goal scorers for the Sabres on the night, as he netted two goal in the victory. Meanwhile, Buffalo survived a hat-trick another performance on Saturday Maple Leafs superstar Auston Matthews to secure the win.
Once again on Saturday, the Sabres gave up the first goal of the game, as Mitch Marner broke free for a breakaway and buried his shot past goalie Devon Levi just past the 12-minute mark of the opening period.
Buffalo entered Saturday's game without a power play goal in their last nine chances with the man advantage, but JJ Peterka snapped that drought with a short-side shot past goalie Joseph Woll to tie the game at 1-1.
To start the second period, Toronto got into some penalty trouble, giving Buffalo a 5-on-3 power play opportunity that the Sabres failed to take advantage of.
However, moments after Victor Olofsson found himself in the penalty box for slashing, the Sabres made up for the missed opportunity on the two-man advantage by scoring a shorthanded tally, courtesy of Tage Thompson for his sixth goal of the year.
A little later in the period, Jordan Greenway took a hooking penalty that gave Toronto another power play, and the Maple Leafs would not squander this chance to score. It was Matthews who broke through Buffalo's strong penalty kill to even the game at 2-2 for his ninth goal of the season.
The Sabres wasted no time with a response, though, as just 34 seconds later, winger Jeff Skinner blasted a slap shot past Woll for his sixth goal of the year.
On Skinner's goal, rookie defenseman Ryan Johnson collected his first NHL point with a primary assist, as his breakout pass helped Skinner get some good space for the opportunity.
Buffalo's 2019 first-round pick was just called up from the Rochester Americans hours before puck drop in Toronto after defenseman Mattias Samuelsson wound up on Injured Reserve with a lower-body injury.
The Maple Leafs started off hot to begin the third period, evening the score at 3-3 just 17 seconds in with Matthews' second goal of the night
Less than three minutes later, the Sabres responded once again, as Greenway was in the right spot at the right time to pot a rebound chance into the Toronto net to give Buffalo a 4-3 lead.
However, the league's leader in goals struck once more, as Matthews picked up the hat-trick on a deflection to tie it up, 4-4. It was Matthews' third hat-trick of the 2023-24 season.
Despite Matthews' hat-trick, it was Tuch who had the last words for this night in Toronto.
The veteran winger was able to give Buffalo the lead for good with 7:12 to go in regulation, as he was able to legally get his body on a Rasmus Dahlin shot that bounced in past Woll for the 5-4 lead.
With time winding down on the clock, Tuch went to work on his own to block a shot from the point, take the puck out of his own zone, and get past two defenders to score into the empty net to seal a 6-4 win.
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SCORING SUMMARY
First Period:
BUF: 16:13 - JJ Peterka (5) PPG (Owen Power, Victor Olofsson)
TOR: 12:05 - Mitch Marner (4) (Calle Jarnkrok, Morgan Reilly)
Second Period:
BUF: 6:28 - Tage Thompson (6) SHG (Unassisted); 11:56 - Jeff Skinner (6) (Ryan Johnson)
TOR: 11:22 - Auston Matthews (9) PPG (William Nylander, Mitch Marner)
Third Period:
BUF: 3:11 - Jordan Greenway (2) (Casey Mittelstadt, JJ Peterka); 12:46 - Alex Tuch (2) (Rasmus Dahlin, Connor Clifton); 18:54 - Alex Tuch (3) ENG (Unassisted)
TOR: 0:17 - Auston Matthews (10) (Mitch Marner); 7:26 - Auston Matthews (11) (Mark Giordano, Mitch Marner)
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Losi and Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Alex Tuch - BUF
2.) Auston Matthews - TOR
3.) JJ Peterka - BUF
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What's next:
The Sabres remain on the road on Tuesday, where they will take on the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena for a 7 p.m. EST faceoff. Pregame coverage on the flagship home of the Sabres Radio Network - WGR Sports Radio 550 - starts at 6 p.m. EST with Mike Schopp and the Bulldog.