For the first time in over two calendar years, the Buffalo Sabres paid the Toronto Maple Leafs a visit to Scotiabank Arena. Trying to salvage the fifth and final game of a so-far fruitless road trip, the blue and gold brought their best in a 5-1 victory over their foes up the QEW.
The Sabres struck first blood very early on after Maple Leafs forward Alex Kerfoot was pegged with a tripping minor just 91 seconds into the game. On Buffalo's first power play chance of the night, Jacob Bryson netted his first goal of the 2021-22 season.
Toronto responded just over nine minutes later when forward Michael Bunting found defenseman Rasmus Sandin creeping into the right circle. Bunting fed Sandin for a one-timer that evened the score at 1-1.
The Sabres took the lead again in the back-half of the second period. Rasmus Asplund took a shot in tight, and Victor Olofsson was in front of the net to cash in some loose change to give Buffalo a 2-1 advantage.
Later in the period, Buffalo upped the ante when they potted a second-consecutive goal. Tage Thompson's incredible season rolled on when the forward was able to locate a puck in his skates in the slot and fire it in behind Maple Leafs goalie Petr Mrazek for his 23rd goal.
The avalanche continued into the third, when Jeff Skinner beat everyone to a loose puck and popped his 21st goal of the campaign.
Another Sabres forward scribbled his way onto the scoresheet with 8:12 left in the contest, as Kyle Okposo added to his third-best team goal total with his 14th of the year.
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GAME RECAP
Scoring Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 2:26 - Jacob Bryson (1) PPG (Dylan Cozens, Casey Mittelstadt)
TOR: 11:48 - Rasmus Sandin (4) (Michael Bunting, Mitch Marner)
Second Period:
BUF: 12:19 - Victor Olofsson (8) (Rasmus Asplund, Rasmus Dahlin); 18:31 - Tage Thompson (23) (Jeff Skinner, Alex Tuch)
TOR: NONE
Third Period:
BUF: 6:39 - Jeff Skinner (21) (Unassisted); 11:48 - Kyle Okposo (14) (Dylan Cozens, Mark Pysyk)
TOR: NONE
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Penalty Summary:
First Period:
BUF: NONE
TOR: 1:31 - Alexander Kerfoot (Tripping - 2 min.)
Second Period:
BUF: 1:51 - Kyle Okposo (Hooking - 2 min.)
TOR: NONE
Third Period:
BUF: NONE
TOR: 14:12 - Jason Spezza (Hooking - 2 min.)
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Losi and Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Jeff Skinner - BUF
2.) Craig Anderson - BUF
3.) Dylan Cozens - BUF
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What's next:
The Sabres return home to host one of the Western Conference's best teams on Friday night - the Minnesota Wild. Puck drop at KeyBank Center is set for 7 p.m. EST with pregame coverage with Mike Schopp and the Bulldog starting at 6 p.m. EST on the radio home of the Sabres - WGR Sports Radio 550.
