Sabres use late-game comeback to defeat Toronto, 5-4, in OT

Toronto, Ontario (WGR) - The Buffalo Sabres trailed the Toronto Maple Leafs several times, including by two goals in the third period, and defeat Toronto 5-4 in overtime on Thursday night at Scotiabank Arena.

Toronto was able to capitalize on a turnover in the offensive zone and open up an early one-goal lead on the Sabres. Auston Matthews took a pass from Jack Roslovic and scored his sixth goal of the season. It is also extended Matthews' point streak to 12 straight games against Buffalo to give his team a 1-0 lead.

However, just over a minute later Buffalo had the answer. Zach Benson passed the puck from below the goal line out to the top of the crease where Jack Quinn was able to get the puck on net. The shot slid under Sergei Bobrovsky and evened the score 1-1.

It was Quinn's third goal of the season. Benson and Jach Metsa were credited with the assists on the game-tying score.

The Maple Leafs took advantage of their first power play chance of the game to re-take the lead over Buffalo. Kirill Marchenko was able to use what little space he had at the top of the crease to use a stickhandle move to beat Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and give Toronto a 2-1 lead later in the first period. The goal was Marchenko's second of the season and came with Sam Carrick in the penalty box for hooking.

Quinn scored again, this time early in the second period, re-tying the game 2-2. The forward dragged the puck around Jake McCabe and into the slot, unleashing a wrist shot into the net for his fourth goal of the season.

Noah Ostlund made the pass that helped set up the game-tying score. He and Mattias Samuelsson recieved the assists.

Marchenko's second goal of the game gave Toronto their third lead of the game. His third goal of the season came following an offensive zone puck battle was won by John Tavares. He fed Marchenko in the slot for a 3-2 Maple Leafs lead. He completed the hat trick later in the second period to extend the lead to 4-2 over Buffalo. Colton Sissons made the pass from below the goal line that helped create the goal.

The Sabres were able to get back within one goal thanks to Dennis Gilbert's first goal of the season midway through the third period. The defenseman took a shot from just inside the blue line with Benson providing the screen at the top of the crease.

Benson and Quinn were credited with the assists. Gilbert is playing in just his second game of the season since being recalled from Rochester on Tuesday morning. His score made it 4-3 in favor of the Maple Leafs.

Buffalo was able to even the score at 4-4 just minutes later on Mattias Samuelsson's second goal of the season.

Tage Thompson made the pass that helped create the chance on the rush, he was credited with the lone assist on the game-tying goal. Neither team was able to score again in regulation, sending the game to overtime tied at four.

Owen Power scored just over three minutes into the three-on-three overtime to win the game for Buffalo.

Quinn's fourth point of the night was also his second assist of the victory. He and Ostlund were the other two players on the ice and assisted on the game-winning goal.

Goal SummaryFirst Period

BUF: 3:35 - Jack Quinn (3) (Zach Benson, Zach Metsa). 12:16 - Mattias Samuelsson (2) (Tage Thompson)
TOR: 2:24 - Auston Matthews (6) (Jack Roslovic). 13:10 - Kirill Marchenko (2) PPG (John Tavares, Darren Raddysh)

Second Period
BUF: 2:14 - Jack Quinn (4) (Noah Ostlund, Mattias Samuelsson)
TOR: 11:13 - Kirill Marchenko (John Tavares). 16:51 - Kirill Marchenko (Colton Sissons, Easton Cowan)

Third Period
BUF: 10:05 - Dennis Gilbert (1) (Jack Quinn, Zach Benson)
TOR: NONE

Overtime
BUF: 3:14 - Owen Power (2) (Jack Quinn, Noah Ostlund)
TOR: NONEStats of the Game

Three Stars of the Game
1. Kirill Marchenko -BUF
2. Jack Quinn -BUF
3. Owen Power -BUF

What's Next
The Sabres are headed back to Montreal to face the Canadiens for the second time this week. The puck drops just after seven o'clock from Bell Centre. Pregame coverage starts at 6:00 p.m. with Brian Koziol.