Maple Leafs 6, Sabres 3
In his first NHL game since April 2, 2023, Matt Murray made 25 saves to help the Toronto Maple Leafs inflict a 12th straight defeat (0-9-3) on the Buffalo Sabers by winning 6- 3 at KeyBank Center.
Murray replaced Ilya Samsonov in a 5-2 Maple Leafs loss to the Detroit Red Wings 629 days ago. Murray was recalled from the Marlies' American League affiliate Friday morning.
William Nylander led the Maple Leafs (21-10-2) offense with a goal and two assists. Max Domi, Nick Robertson and Bobby McMann all scored a goal and had an assist for the Maple Leafs (21-10-2). Mitch Marner and captain John Tavares finished the game with two assists. Tavares' second of the game was his 600th in the NHL.
JJ Peterka and defensemen Mattias Samuelsson and Owen Power scored a goal and collected an assist for the Sabers (11-18-4).
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen surrendered four times on just 13 shots before giving up the net to veteran James Reimer at 4:27 of the second period. Reimer then made 14 saves.
The Maple Leafs started the first period strong with two goals in 4:36.
McMann first gave his team the lead at 1:29 with his eighth goal of the season before seeing Auston Matthews take advantage of a five-man attack at 6:05.
Both teams got off to an explosive start to the second period with three goals in a span of 2:34. Robertson made it 3-0 with his fifth of the campaign at 1:53.
Peterka then brought the lead back to two goals, 29 seconds later, but Domi restored Toronto's three-goal lead at 4:27, chasing Luukkonen from the game.
Max Pacioretty then hurt the Sabers by making it 5-1 at 10:47.
Samuelsson scored Buffalo's second goal at 15:56 before seeing Owen Power make it 5-3 at 11:56 of the final period. Jiri Kulich picked up his first NHL assist on the play.
Nylander finally sealed the outcome of the match in an empty cage at 19:40.
The Maple Leafs have won five of their last six meetings (5-1-0).
Sabers captain Rasmus Dahlin was back in action. He missed seven games with back spasms. He was shut out in 27:33 of playing time.
Forward Sam Lafferty also returned after missing nine games with a lower back injury. He was also shut out in 8:16 of ice time.
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