Buffalo (20-10-2) vs. Toronto (12-15-7)
Buffalo found themselves back in the win column after being shutout by the Ottawa Senators. The Sabres
hosted the Maple Leafs on Friday night at HSBC arena. It didn’t take long before the Leafs fans were celebrating the first Toronto goal.
Viktor Stalberg scored his first goal of the season just three minutes into the game. It looked like it could be a long night for Ryan Miller and the Sabres, but it was the other way around.
Buffalo exploded for four goals on six shots in the second period. Vesa Toskala was pulled after those four goals. Derek Roy started the Sabres scoring off with a slap shot. Then, it was Toni Lydman, who took a harmless shot from the point. The shot was going high and wide, but Toskala reached up and had it go off of his glove and into the net.
Mike Grier and Matt Ellis scored the next two for Buffalo, ending the night for Toskala. Toskala faced 10 shots, stopping six of them. After two periods, Toronto fans began to evacuate HSBC arena. They knew it was over, and they didn’t need to hear it from Buffalo fans.
Thomas Vanek would add his tenth of the season on a wrap-around to beat Jonas Gustavsson. Toronto would get their second goal with only 20 seconds remaining.
Ryan Miller earned his 20th win of the season, stopping 40 of 42 Toronto shots. With Boston’s shootout loss, the Sabres have a five point lead in their division, and remain in third in the Eastern Conference.
Paul Gaustad was in the lineup for the first time in ten games. Nathan Gerbe and Patrick Kaleta were out due to injuries. Buffalo has now defeated Toronto eight straight times. These two teams will meat again on Monday night in Toronto.