Buffalo Shutout 4-0, Swept in Season Series
Score: Buffalo Sabres 0-4 Toronto Maple Leafs
Shots: BUF 35-32 TOR
Buffalo Sabres Goals: Zilch (0) from Nada and Nill
Toronto Maple Leafs Goals: Lorentz (8) Marner (27) Matthews (32) Robertson (15)
Plus 1: Decent Start but Where Are We?
There was still a Buffalo Sabres logo painted at center ice for this game but make no mistake, Keybank Center was loaded with Leafs’ fans. Toronto cheers often overshadowed our old faithful “Let’s go, Buffalo!” chant. As discouraging as that was, just throw it in the pile of Sabres’ disappointment and shrug it off. Meanwhile, both teams played an entertaining 1st period. Around the 10 minute mark, Alex Tuch had a good look but Anthony Stolarz for Toronto made a nice glove save. The Sabres then had a few chances again as JJ Peterka was buzzing. Stolarz was there again to make the stops. Down at the other end, Ukka-Pekka Luukkonen was caught out of position a few times. Twice the puck went wide and once he made an awkward save. But UPL kept Toronto off the board nonetheless.
Overall, the Sabres showed some life after their disappointing 1 point road trip. The teams exchanged penalties late in the first and neither was able to score. Buffalo’s power play looked disorganized as usual, not much to say there. On Toronto’s man advantage, UPL came up BIGTIME as he stopped 2 quality chances for the Leafs. His sliding stop on Auston Matthews was his best of the period. It was no score after one period and the Sabres had the lead in shots at 13-8. They played well for most of the opening frame, staying even with high powered Toronto. No small feat.
Minus 1: Second Period Sorrows
Buffalo took a hooking penalty early on a Toronto chance and it was Jack Quinn called for the second time. Buffalo looked better on this kill, though Luukkonen made one nice stop. The Leafs picked up their game though, getting 2 good chances not long after. UPL again was there but seemingly finding himself out of position some more. Something seems fundamentally wrong with his technique this season. He’s lost some of the basics. The Tage Thompson line got a good look later but Stolarz made the save.
Toronto pressure finally got the double 0’s off the board as they connected on the game’s first goal. A blast from Steven Lorentz eluded Luukkonen, on a nice pass from Scott Laughton off the wall. The Leafs were maintaining offensive zone time as they began to set the pace. Alex Tuch then got a quality scoring chance but the Toronto goalie one again had the answers. The shots still favored Buffalo 22-19 after the second period but Toronto carried much of the play.
Minus 2: Little Lackluster
Buffalo got two good looks to start the third, including a Rasmus Dahlin blast. Stolarz was calm, cool and in position once again. Toronto had a partial breakaway a little later but UPL answered the call. Nylander for the Leafs then took a penalty on Peyton Krebs and Buffalo got another power play. They had a few chances but the passing just wasn’t there. Neither was any scoring.
The period was back and forth from there, with lots of neutral zone play. Rasmus Dahlin had a nice hit under the goal line but this wasn’t much of a physical game. At one point the teams combined for no shots over a six minute span. Toronto iced it when Mitch Marner was left all alone and buried his shot from a nice pass from Matthews. UPL had almost no chance on it. Auston Matthews then scored his 400th NHL goal into an empty net. To make it worse, Toronto scored another to make it a 4-0 final. The Leafs win it and sweep the season series. All three Canadian rival series in the Atlantic ended in sweeps vs. Buffalo. Montreal and Toronto swept us and the Sabres did it to Ottawa.
Final Thoughts:
Buffalo gave a decent effort tonight but Anthony Stolarz was a brick wall. This is the third time he has shut out the Sabres, one with THREE different teams. Feel free to shake your head like me. It seems the Sabres became frustrated with him, with a lack of urgency in the third period. Then after Marner scored they just collapsed. UPL was solid but got zero goal support.
Isak Rosén was recalled from Rochester for this game as Beck Malenstyn wasn’t able to play. No further info on his status. Rosén once again looked mostly ineffective.
Buffalo will wrap up the regular season on Thursday evening against Philadelphia. It is fan appreciation night. Game time is at 7:00 pm Eastern time. On a personal note, I’d appreciate it if our fans stopped selling their tickets to Toronto fans. I don’t give two sh*ts about making back some season ticket money, you are doing a disservice to the team.