Short-Handed Sabres With A Late Surge To Top Toronto

The Buffalo Sabres have been making a habit of staging comebacks from significant deficits this season and after earning a point in a shootout loss in Montreal where they trailed by two goals after 40 minutes, the Sabres repeated that late-game dramatics in Toronto, where they scored twice in the final 10 minutes of regulation to tie the game, and won it 5-4 on Owen Power’s second overtime game-winner of the season.   

The Leafs led 4-2, powered by a hat trick from recently acquired Kirill Marchenko and Auston Matthew’s sixth of the season, but remained within striking distance in spite of not having team captain Rasmus Dahlin in the lineup, due in part to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s second straight strong performance and a four-point night from winger Jack Quinn. 

“We don’t like playing from behind, but we fought our way back, clawed our way back in games, down by a couple goals. We’ve got to fix the start obviously.” Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said after the game, “It’s the best game I’ve seen (Quinn) play. All around. Four points, he had a couple goal posts, scored a couple goals, an unbelievable fight – sort of. We’ll give him the Gordie Howe (hat trick) on that one.”

Toronto played short-handed for most of the third period, as veteran John Tavares left the game injured and first overall pick Gavin McKenna was benched. Buffalo took over the game territorially, outshooting the Leafs 12-4 in the final 20 minutes and getting goals from Dennis Gilbert and Mattias Samuelsson. 

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The Sabres returned to Montreal and will take on the Canadiens for the second time in five days at the Bell Centre on Saturday night. Ruff indicated that Dahlin will miss his third straight game due to the upper-body injury he suffered on Monday against Florida. 

Center Josh Norris left Thursday’s game, and after the game Ruff indicated he was in concussion protocol, but he participated in an optional practice on Friday. Forward Jiri Kulich was scratched before the Leafs game and was sent back to Buffalo for testing, but those tests were negative and he may rejoin the club in time to play on Saturday. 

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