After a humbling loss, Skinner scores twice as the Sabres destroy the Maple Leafs 9-3.
The Buffalo Sabres defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 9-3 on Thursday night in retaliation for their most embarrassing loss of the season. Jeff Skinner scored twice, including the game-winning goal, and added an assist.
Two nights after the club was jeered off the ice and fans yelled “Fire Donnie,” a reference to coach Don Granato, after a 9-4 loss to Columbus, Tage Thompson also scored twice and provided two assists. Buffalo also had goals from Owen Power, Jack Quinn, Jordan Greenway, and Rasmus Dahlin. This was Buffalo’s fourth victory in its previous 12 games.
The Buffalo Sabres defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 9-3 on Thursday night in retaliation for their most embarrassing loss of the season. Jeff Skinner scored twice, including the game-winning goal, and added an assist.
Two nights after the club was jeered off the ice and fans yelled “Fire Donnie,” a reference to coach Don Granato, after a 9-4 loss to Columbus, Tage Thompson also scored twice and provided two assists. Buffalo also had goals from Owen Power, Jack Quinn, Jordan Greenway, and Rasmus Dahlin. This was Buffalo’s fourth victory in its previous 12 games.
For just the second time this season, Toronto lost consecutive games in regulation. Calle Jarnkrok scored a goal on the short side, and Max Domi also scored for the visitors. Prior to Tuesday’s 5-2 loss to the New York Rangers, the Maple Leafs had a record of 6-0-3. With an assist, William Nylander’s point streak reached ten games.
After allowing five goals on 19 shots, Ilya Samsonov was replaced after Thompson’s seemingly harmless left-point shot deflected off the goalie’s glove. Martin Jones gave up four goals on 16 shots in the end. Toronto has not allowed nine goals in a game since losing 9–2 to Nashville on November 18, 2014.
As happened in the opening session against Columbus, Buffalo took a 1-0 lead before trailing 2-1. The Sabres managed a response instead of conceding seven goals in a row, as they did to the Blue Jackets.
Zach Benson’s pass went off a Maple Leafs defender, putting Samsonov out of position, and Power knotted the score at two with a sweep of the puck into an open net with 6:16 remaining in the first period.
Skinner’s 2:13 marker was the last goal the Sabres ever gave up. After Mitchell Marner’s blind pass up the boards was intercepted by Alex Tuck, who drove to the net and beat Samsonov on the glove side.
Buffalo received further support. After missing three games due to an upper body injury, Skinner made a comeback. After missing nine games due to an upper body ailment, Greenway made a comeback. Quinn, who underwent surgery in June to repair a torn Achilles tendon, was only participating in his second game of the season.
The Sabres then put more pressure on their rivals in the Atlantic Division and across the border by scoring three goals in a row in the third period.Maple Leafs: The Columbus Blue Jackets will host them on
