Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Sabres fell to the Maple Leafs 4-0 Tuesday night at KeyBank Center. Anthony Stolarz led the way for with a 35 save shut out, while Auston Matthews scored his 400th career goal in the victory. Toronto clinched the Atlantic Division title with the win. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was solid in net for Buffalo stopping 28 shots, despite the loss.
The Sabres and Maple Leafs played an even first period as each team had a chance on the power play, but neither could convert and would skate to scoreless opening frame.
Both goaltenders played solid through most of two periods of play, but it was Toronto finally breaking through as Steven Lorentz ripped a one-timer from the slot to give the Maple Leafs the 1-0 lead with 5:45 remaining in the middle frame.
The tight defensive game continued into the third. Buffalo would get another chance to tie it up on the power play early in the period, but could not convert. The score would remain the same until late in the third, when Auston Matthews sent a beautiful cross crease pass to Mitch Marner and he slammed it home to make it a 2-0 Toronto lead. The goal was Marner's 100th point of the season. Buffalo would pull their goaltender and it would be Auston Matthews scoring to make it a 3-0 game. The goal would be the 400th goal of Matthews' career. In the final moments of the game, Nicholas Robertson capped off the win for Toronto as he roofed a backhand over Luukkonen to make it a 4-0 final.
The Sabres have now lost four straight games after winning five in a row to start the month of April.
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GAME RECAP
Scoring Summary:
First Period:
BUF: NONE
TOR: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: NONE
TOR: 14:15 - Steven Lorentz (8) (Scott Laughton, Calle Jarnkrok)
Third Period:
BUF: NONE
TOR: 15:39 - Mitch Marner (27) (Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies), 18:08 - Auston Matthews (32)(ENG) (Unassisted), 18:43 - Nicholas Robertson (15) (Pontus Holmberg, Bobby McMann)
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STATS OF THE GAME
Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Anthony Stolarz (TOR)
2.) Mitch Marner (TOR)
3.) Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (BUF)
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What's next: The Sabres finish out their 2024-25 season against the Philadelphia Flyers Thursday night at KeyBank Center for a 7:00 p.m. ET faceoff. Catch all of the action on WGR Sports Radio 550 starting with the pregame at 6:00 p.m. ET with Mike Schopp and The Bulldog.