Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Sabres got back in the win column Saturday night with a 3-2 shootout win over the Toronto Maple Leafs at KeyBank Center.
Jack Quinn scored the game-tying goal in the second period, and earned the game-winner in the shootout to lead the way for Buffalo.
It was Owen Power that gave Buffalo an early lead, as he jumped into the slot and put home the game's opening goal just 2:01 into the first period.
Toronto evened the game up just minutes later, as the Sabres turned the puck over in front of their own net and Dakota Joshua beat Alex Lyon to make it 1-1.
The physical play ramped up throughout the period.
First, it was Luke Schenn and Dakota Joshua dropping their gloves and both going off for fighting.
Later on, Noah Ostlund got called for goaltender interference as he ran into Joseph Woll, and some skirmishes broke out after the fact. Schenn and Oliver Ekman-Larsson both earned double minors for roughing.
Toronto took a 2-1 lead just 53 seconds into the second period, as Max Domi scored on a beautiful feed from William Nylander, converting a 2-on-1 rush.
Buffalo got another chance with the man advantage later in the middle frame, and this time, the Sabres converted. It was Ostlund setting up Quinn on a nice behind-the-back, no-look feed to even the game at 2-2.
The two teams failed to score in the final frame, resulting in a trip to overtime for five extra minutes of 3-on-3 hockey.
Both teams each traded scoring chances in overtime, but neither team could net the game-winner, leading to a shootout.
It ended up being Buffalo pulling it out in the shootout, as Quinn and Alex Tuch both scored for the Sabres, while Lyon stopped both Toronto shooters to earn the 3-2 victory.
With the win, the Sabres improved to 4-0 on the year in shootouts.
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SCORING RECAP
First Period:
BUF: 2:01 - Owen Power (7) (Zach Benson, Sam Carrick)
TOR: 6:09 - Dakota Joshua (8) (Nicholas Robertson)
Second Period:
BUF: 11:21 - Jack Quinn (16) PPG (Noah Ostlund, Ryan McLeod)
TOR: 0:53 - Max Domi (10) (William Nylander, Matthew Knies)
Third Period:
BUF: NONE
TOR: NONE
Overtime:
BUF: NONE
TOR: NONE
Shootout:
BUF: Tage Thompson - Miss
TOR: William Nylander - Save
BUF: Jack Quinn - GOAL
TOR: Easton Cowan - Miss
BUF: Alex Tuch - GOAL
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BlueStar Home Services Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Jack Quinn - BUF
2.) Alex Tuch - BUF
3.) Owen Power - BUF
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What's next:
The Buffalo Sabres head out West to face the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday night to start a four-game road trip. Faceoff in Las Vegas is slated for 10 p.m., where you catch all of the action on WGR Sports Radio 550. Pregame coverage starts at 9 p.m. with Brian Koziol.