Matthews scores NHL-leading 54th goal of the season
— Auston Matthews scored his NHL-leading 54th goal of the season at 4:20 of overtime as the Toronto Maple Leafs downed the Buffalo Sabres 2-1 on Wednesday night.
William Nylander had the goal in regulation for Toronto (36-18-8). Ilya Samsonov made 23 saves.
Victor Olofsson replied for Buffalo (29-29-5). Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 25 stops.
Matthews, who had one goal in his last five games, took a pass from Mitch Marner and roofed the winner in the extra period with Samsonov making a huge glove save on Sabres centre Tage Thompson.
Coming off Monday’s 4-1 loss to Boston, the Leafs entered play nine points back of the Bruins — with three games in hand — for second in the Atlantic Division.
The Sabres, who beat Toronto 6-4 at Scotiabank Arena on Nov. 4 and thumped the Leafs 9-3 at home Dec. 21 when Samsonov allowed five goals on 19 shots before getting the hook, started the night 10 points back of the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot.
Nylander, who saw a 10-game point streak snapped Monday, opened the scoring at 2:29 of the second period when he took a pass from Tyler Bertuzzi and ripped his 34th goal of the season passed Luukkonen.
Olofsson tied it at 6:31 when he snapped his fifth upstairs on
Samsonov off the rush.
Nylander had a couple of short-handed chances on the same penalty kill later in the period, including a shot off the post from a sharp angle and in nice solo effort Luukkonen turned aside.
Samsonov, who has rebounded nicely after his early struggles this season that included a demotion to the American Hockey League, made a nice glove stop on Alex Tuch four minutes into the third.
Luukkonen then denied Matthews at the other end from in tight before the Leafs hit another post on a scramble.
Samsonov had to be quick in the dying seconds on a point shot that changed direction in the slot to secure at least a point for the home side.