12/05/2018 – Toronto Maple Leafs vs Buffalo Sabres – Game Recap

Transaction Update: Leafs traded Winger Josh Leivo to the Vancouver Canucks for Phil Carcone 

Toronto Maple Leafs (20-8-0 40pts) v, Buffalo Sabres (17-8-4 38pts)

Lineups:

Toronto:

Kasperi Kapanen – Auston Matthews – Patrick Marleau

Mitch Marner – John Tavares– Zach Hyman

Andreas Johnsson – Nazem Kadri – Connor Brown

Tyler Ennis– Frederik Gauthier – Andreas Johnsson

 

Morgan Rielly  – Ron Hainsey

Jake Gardiner – Nikita Zaitsev

Travis Dermott – Igor Ozhiganov

 

Frederik Andersen

Garrett Sparks

Scratched: Justin Holl & Martin Marincin

Injuries: Nathan Horton (Back)

Suspension: None

 

Buffalo:

Jeff Skinner – Jack Eichel – Sam Reinhart

Tage Thompson – Casey Middlestadt– Kyle Okposo

Conor Sheary – Evan Rodrigues – Vladimir Sobotka

Patrick Berglund – Johan Larsson – Zemgus Girgensons

 

Lawrence Pilut – Rasmus Ristolainen

Rasmus Dahlin – Zach Bogosian

Nathan Beaulieu – Casey Nelson

 

Carter Hutton

Linus Ullmark
Scratched: None

Injuries: Jason Pominville, Marco Scandella

Suspension: None
Gameday:

The Leafs look for a fifth straight win tonight in a showdown against the Sabres.@HennyTweets prepares you for puck drop with tonight's Game Preview. #LeafsForever https://t.co/Vcsi0kzhuo

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) December 4, 2018

First Period:

No Scoring or Penalties

End of 1st – TML –0        BUF – 0

Shots              7                     14

Faceoffs     14/22              8/22

Hits               4                     5

PP                 0/0                   0/0

 

Analysis

Leafs came out flat to start this one. With Buffalo pouring on the pressure for the first 5 or 6 minutes. But Andersen stood tall as normal shutting the door hard. Keeping the game at 0-0 through the first period.

Need to Do:

Get your legs moving, force the Sabres to skate and play defence.

Leafs and Sabres still scoreless following the first tonight. #TMLtalk pic.twitter.com/8WU2D3UwJf

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) December 5, 2018

Leafs Nation is bringing it in Buffalo tonight.

The second starts now on @TSN_Sports 4 and @FAN590. #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/GeXJeUIgIn

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) December 5, 2018

Second Period:

Leafs Goal–08:33 – Auston Matthews (14), assisted by Ron Hainsey (9)

Leafs Penalty – 11:19 –Conor Brown, 2 mins for Interference

Sabres Penalty –11:39 – Tage Thompson, 2 mins for Hooking

Sabres Goal– 14:01– Sam Reinhart (8), assisted by Nathan Beaulieu (3) and Rasmus Ristolainen (13)

Leafs Goal– 19:50– Jake Gardiner (2), assisted by John Tavares (14) and Mitch Marner (33)

End of 2nd – TML – 2          BUF – 1

Shots              17                    26

Faceoffs       28/44              16/44

Hits              8                      10

PP                 0/1                    0/1

 

Analysis:

Leafs came out to play in this period, despite some bad turnovers the Leafs took lead with Auston Matthews 14^th of the season and reclaimed the lead with 59 seconds left in the 2^nd with a beautiful tic tac toe play by Mitch Marner and John Tavares which lead to Jake Gardiner putting his 2^nd of the season in the net.

Need to Do:

Keep pressuring but don’t sacrifice too much defence for offence.

 

Late goal from Gardiner gives the Leafs a 2-1 lead heading into the third. #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/l6SSi7bvTQ

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) December 5, 2018

The final frame is under way on @TSN_Sports 4 and @FAN590. #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/PB5LH2qkNs

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) December 5, 2018

 

Third Period:

Sabres Goal– 02:39 – Jack Eichel (6) assisted by Rasmus Ristolainen(14) and Jeff Skinner (9)

Sabres Penalty –07:16 – Tage Thompson, 2 mins for Hooking

Leafs Penalty –08:44 – Patrick Marleau, 2 mins for Interference

Sabres Goal– 12:57 – Jack Eichel (7) assisted by Sam Reinhart(16)

Leafs Goal – 14:47 – Patrick Marleau (7) assisted by Morgan Rielly(21) and Auston Matthews(8)

End of 3rd – TML – 3        BUF – 3

Shots             27                   37

Faceoffs     36/64                28/64

Hits               10                       13

PP                0/2                    0/2

 

Analysis:

Both teams applied pressure offer for the whole 3rd with Eichel scoring twice to take the lead then Marleau with under 5 minutes in the game to tie it.

Nothing settled after 60 minutes as Leafs and Sabres are tied 3-3. OT up next. #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/qoESeLplxe

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) December 5, 2018

Overtime:

Leafs Goal – 04:57 – Auston Matthews (15) assisted by Kasperi Kapanen(9) and Jake Gardiner(11)

End of OT – TML – 4        BUF – 3

Shots              30                   41

Faceoffs     39/66                29/66

Hits               11                       14

PP                0/2                    0/2

Signed, sealed, delivered. #LeafsForever https://t.co/iy5yL2Caye

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) December 5, 2018

An electric finish in the City of Light.

Here are tonight's @OntarioLottery Game Winning Numbers.#LeafsForever #That649Feeling pic.twitter.com/0g59vFgnBt

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) December 5, 2018

Next Up:

Detroit (12-12-4 28pts) vs Toronto (20-8-0 40pts)

Philadelphia (11-12-2 24pts) at Buffalo (17-8-4 38pts)

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