Score: Buffalo 5, Toronto 2
Shots: BUF-36 | TOR – 22
Buffalo Goal Scorers: Jack Eichel, Johan Larsson, Conor Sheary, Kyle Okposo, and Jimmy Vesey
Toronto Goal Scorers: Egor Korshkov and Zach Hyman
Plus 1 – Dominant Effort
The Sabres controlled this game from start to finish. It got a little dicey for about two minutes in the third period when the Leafs tied the game, but the Sabres scored three goals in less than two minutes after that. They set the tone early in the first period by throwing 30 shot attempts towards the Toronto net and had a 2.2 expected goals for rating at 5 on 5. They’ve averaged a 1.55 xGF per game this season.
Plus 2 – Hello, Jimmy
Jimmy Vesey had one of his better games as a Sabre tonight. He was all over the ice and actually should have two goals if the league would have given him one that they determined didn’t cross the goal line in the first period that looked like it clearly did on video review.
Plus 3 – Wing version of Marcus Johansson is the best version
Marcus Johansson has had an up and down season to this point. The experiment at center didn’t work and has been moved back to the wing. The last two games he’s been a different player. He looks more comfortable and more dangerous offensively. He led all Sabres players in individual shot quality tonight at 5 on 5.
Plus 4 – Find someone that loves you as much as Ristolainen and Eichel hate the Leafs
Rasmus Ristolainen continued to dominate the Leafs as he’s done most of his career. He had a few big hits and made a great pass in front of the net to set up Vesey for his goal. Jack Eichel also continued to terrorize the Leafs and troll their fans. After scoring the go-ahead goal in the third period he turned to the crowd and told a few Leafs fans in the first row to grab a seat.
Jack Eichel tells Leaf fans to stay seated pic.twitter.com/uYGU2oege9
— Ben Mathewson (@Ben_Mathewson) February 17, 2020