Leafs overcome slow start with second-period salvo
They started like they have for five straight games, shut out in the first period.
But the Maple Leafs scored three goals in 124 seconds early in the second period, building a 3-1 lead before holding on to beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-3 Monday night.
After managing just six shots in the first period, John Tavares, Auston Matthews, and Fred Gauthier clicked in rapid-fire succession.
Matthews’ goal was his 30th of the season, making him the first Leaf to score 30 or more goals in each of his first three seasons.
“(The record) is pretty humbling.” Matthews said. “I’ve been fortunate to play with great players since I’ve been here. Any given night, they are amazing, so I can do what I do.”
Buffalo pulled to within one seconds into the third period, but Kasperi Kapanen scored on a shorthanded breakaway with a little more than two minutes left to put the game away.
Getting the Goat: Frederik Gauthier earned the game’s first star on a night in which he notched a goal and an assist. It was the first multi-point game of his career, and his line with Tyler Ennis (who scored a breakaway goal) and Trevor Moore was the Leafs’ best. Gauthier wasn’t thinking about the Gordie How Hat Trick — a goal, an assist and a fight — but Sabres defenceman Zach Bogo-
sian actually asked Gauthier if he “wanted to go (fight)” to complete the score card. “I said, ‘Not really’,” Gauthier said. “He was smiling, I was smiling, but I said no.”
Phewww: Kapanen’s breakaway was as much a relief his teammates as it was for Kapanen. He hadn’t scored in five games and entered the game with three goals in 20 games since Jan. 3. “He was in a bad mood since he’s gotten all these opportunities and hasn’t been able to cash in on them,” Matthews said.
Kapanen’s goal came with Matthews in the penalty box for tripping. The score was 4-3 Toronto at the time, and the potentially damaging timing of that penalty wasn’t lost on Matthews. “I hate taking penal-
ties, especially that penalty kill there with a few minutes left. But when (Kapanen) got that breakaway, it was huge … he’s tough to catch.”
Steady Freddie: Goaltender Frederik Andersen robbed Sabres veteran forward Jason Pominville twice, including a cross-crease save in the third with the score 4-3 in Toronto’s favour. Late in the third period, Andersen’s split-pad save robbed Rasmus Dahlin of the game-tying goal. Kasperi Kapanen came back with a shorthanded goal on the next play. It’s often the way: a big save leads to a big goal. Andersen kept the Leafs in the game a whole lot Monday, as he has the past week, and came away with his 100th win as a Leaf.
Up next: The Leafs entertain Edmonton, Wednesday at 7 p.m.