The Buffalo Sabres faced the Toronto Maple Leafs in a game where Jeff Skinner returned to practice and Jordan Greenway scored, putting the Sabres ahead 1-0. Ilya Samsonov started in goal for the Leafs but was replaced by Martin Jones after allowing 5 goals. The Sabres dominated, leading 6-3 after the second period and ultimately winning 9-3. Skinner and Tage Thompson each scored twice, with Kyle Okposo adding a short-handed goal. The Leafs struggled defensively, and Samsonov expressed mental struggles after the game.
Auston Matthews' 2-goal night leads Maple Leafs over Blue Jackets. 🔥 https://t.co/wY0BkBLWfY https://t.co/c5hf5ULbIZ
#CBJ Danforth off at 15:27 for interference. #LeafsForever to the power play
#LeafsForever score a short-handed goal at 11:51 to make it 4-1. First rule of power play: Do No Harm. That was harm.
#LeafsForever Gregor off at 7:47 of the third for holding the stick. #CBJ to the power play.
The Leafs are up 3-1 through two periods. Jackets have an edge of 9:42-7:23 in offensive zone possession time, but Matthews and Tavares made it look easy on their goals. #CBJ
#LeafsForever lead 3-1 after two.
#LeafsForever take a 2-1 lead at 2:58. Tavares with a spin-o-rama high in the zone, the scores on a nasty wrister.
#CBJ tie the game at one as Danforth scores his 8th goal of the season 22 seconds into the second period. Assists to Gaudreau and Fantilli.
#CBJ Danforth gets behind #LeafsForever D and scores on a breakaway at :22 of the second period. It's 1-1
🚨 #CBJ goal: Justin Danforth Absolutely electric pass from Johnny Gaudreau feeds Danforth in behind the Toronto defense and he roofs a shot over the glove of Jones. All-around great play. Just 22 seconds into the second, it's 1-1
Toronto strikes first as Matthews scores 8:20 into the game. #CBJ
Blue Jackets can't handle intense forechecking pressure by #LeafsForever and it turns into a goal by Matthews off a feed from Marner. It's 1-0 Toronto approaching the midpoint in the first. #CBJ
#CBJ Jiricek - Peeke defensive pair have a tough time getting out of the zone. Seconds later, after a turnover, it's 1-0 #LeafsForever at 8:20 of the first. Auston Matthews with his (gulp!) 27th goal of the season.
Leafs take a 1-0 lead 8:20 into the game. Auston Matthews one-timer from the left circle. His 11th goal in seven games. Jackets had an easy chance to leave the zone and didn't take it. Kept going backwards instead of forward and eventually paid. Young mistakes. #CBJ
MAPLE LEAFS NOTES: Teammates go into support mode for struggling Samsonov https://t.co/iq2l3XaqzH Via @koshtorontosun
"Samsonov might be coming to an end here in Toronto, I just don't know if it's now." @FriedgeHNIC on the #Leafs' options for Ilya Samsonov as he continues to struggle with @JeffMarek. #LeafsForever LIVE ⤵️ 📺 https://t.co/SqK7M993Jz & @Sportsnet 360 📻 https://t.co/tEtiRUWyip https://t.co/YUx3DHdNU8
Skinner scores 2 and Sabres respond to embarrassing loss with 9-3 rout of Maple Leafs https://t.co/BMjW17nOly
"I need to figure out everything in my head." Ilya Samsonov has never been so mentally shaken in his career. And the Maple Leafs didn't do much to help. Where do they go after the "embarrassment" in Buffalo? https://t.co/A2MiZZTb0Y https://t.co/ZvDJ7WHobk
Jeff Skinner (3 points), Sabres erupt in 9-3 rout of Leafs https://t.co/oDLi9Ggd0n https://t.co/ueV5hlBgSr
Straight to the Point. Buffalo Sabres, Jeff Skinner, points to teammate, Alex Tuch, after scoring his 2nd goal of the night against the Toronto Maple Leafs. #LetsGoBuffalo https://t.co/ZXRokCrzSi
The Buffalo Sabres defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs, 9-3 #LetsGoBuffalo #LeafsForever https://t.co/bbKVUvRU36
"We wanted to do more than just say we have his back, we wanted to go out there and prove it, and I think we did a pretty good job of that." More on the #Buffalo #Sabres' showing their belief in Don Granato by annihilating the Toronto Maple Leafs: https://t.co/2ePjbh2CmS
Ilya Samsonov is clearly not in the right headspace. The #Leafs played their worst hockey of the season in front of him on Thursday. With a goaltending crisis around the league and little cap space, the Leafs are kind of stuck. ⤵️ https://t.co/RXSm22Q864 https://t.co/RXSm22Q864
#Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe om Samsonov and his struggles: "We need to help him through this."
Ilya Samsonov after loss to #Sabres : "I need to figure out everything in my head...it's not about technique it's not about nothing. Just in the head." #Leafs
Samsonov: "It’s tough right now ... I need to figure out everything in my head." #Leafs
For the first time since 2014, the #Leafs allow nine goals against. More on what was a very messy game from Toronto just across the border in Buffalo. ⤵️ https://t.co/hwurSTJAda https://t.co/hwurSTJAda
Skinner scores 2 and Sabres respond to embarrassing loss with 9-3 rout of Maple Leafs (from @AP) https://t.co/V635iTqOSY
Granato says they are really discussing going back to what they did last season, with their style of play, and then deal with whatever issues come up (defensively) and deal with it as it comes. #Sabres
Granato is pretty emotional to learn the players had his back after what happened Tuesday, especially since he admits coaches have to be hard on them. #Sabres
Granato: "I don't even think our guys when they got down just wanted to play...playing for the right reason, the reason that has made you great, the pure joy of playing...we've been side-tracked from that quite a bit..." #Sabres
Skinner says they have Granato's back, says he's the leader and says they are a family in here. #Sabres
Samsonov, Maple Leafs humiliated in lopsided loss to Sabres https://t.co/lCsCxiU6hQ Via @koshtorontosun
A 9-3 final. Just like we all figured. #Sabres #Leafs
Sabres win 9-3.
Just saw it’s 9-3 Sabres… Over the Leafs!! Holy cow.
9-3 Sabres. It's on all of the #Leafs tonight, not just the starting goalie. From Keefe on down.
Skinner from Tuch. 8-3 with 7:37 left. I told ya #Sabres were gonna get to 9. And more #Leafs jerseys heading up the aisles.
Jeff Skinner scores at 12:23. 8-3 Sabres.
It's 7-3 Sabres on a goal by Jack Quinn at 11:08 of the third. #Leafs
Jack Quinn first of the year. Nifty pass to the crease by Greenway #Sabres with a season-high total now. 7-3 over the #Leafs with 8:52 left.
7-3 Sabres Jack Quinn scores his first goal of the season in only his second game back. That's gotta feel good after his long recovery from the Achilles injury. Great pass by Peterka.
#Sabres through two periods: Thompson 1-1-2, Skinner 1-1-2, Tuch 0-2-2, Benson 0-2-2, Clifton +4, Power +3, Benson +2, Okposo +2, Mittelstadt +2
the goaltending has been Bad for the leafs, but also impressive how the Sabres are playing at 5v5 tonight especially in the 2nd. earned ~75% of the expected goals share so far, per @NatStatTrick
End-2nd: #Sabres lead #Leafs 6-3. Shots are 24-15 for BUF (it was 11-5 in the 2nd). BUF is 9-0-1 leading after two TOR is 3-7-3 when trailing after two.
After 40: Sabres lead the Leafs 6-3 and hold a 24-15 advantage in shots on goal.
6-3 Sabres after two. Shots on goal 24-15 Buffalo. #Leafs
Sabres up 6-3 after two periods and have a 24-15 shot advantage.
#Sabres fans yelling "3,4,5,6,....we want 7!" #Leafs trail 6-3 after 2.
It has been a difficult season for Ilya Samsonov. He has allowed 4 goals or more in 7 of 14 games he has appeared in. #Leafs
Okposo breakaway. Nifty deke. Better save by Jones. #Sabres #Leafs
1st shot Martin Jones faces is buried by Kyle Okposo top shelf. 6-3 #Sabres or #Leafs.
Kyle Okposo scores a short-handed goal at 11:04 Sabres up 6-3.
Shortie the other way. Okposo steal and break down the ice and beats Jones top shelf over the glove. #Sabres lead 6-3 with 8:56 left in the 2nd.
Okposo, 6-3 Sabres. SHG. First shot on Jones. #Leafs
6-3 Sabres Shorthanded goal for Kyle Okposo. Went high glove on Martin Jones with 8:56 left in the 2nd period.
What has happened to Ilya Samsonov? Yikes. Just got pulled. 19 shots. 5 goals. Back-breaker was Thompson sneaking a long shot in from just inside the blue line. 5-3 #Sabres.
Thompson's 5-3 goal easily is the worst of the bunch on Samsonov tonight. He's done after facing 19 shots. #Leafs
Tage Thompson with a goal Samsonov needs to stop. Martin Jones comes in. #Leafs down 5-3 to #Sabres. Samsonov gives up 5 goals on 18 shots on goal.
Thompson scores. Another softie by Samsonov. Right off the glove. Yeesh.. #Sabres 5, #Leafs 3 with 11:38 still left in the 2nd. And that's it for Samsonov. Jones in. Five goals on 19 shots.
Martin Jones is replacing Samsonov. Tage Thompson's shot from the left circle leaked through the Leafs' starting goalie, making it 5-3 Sabres with 11:38 left in the 2nd period.
Another huge save by Samsonov on Benson alone in front. First team to 8 is gonna win this one. #Sabres #Leafs
Samsonov big save on Thompson turns into instant 2-on-1 and Jarnkrok gets a shortie at 5:42... Chance for 5-2 lead suddenly turns into a 4-3 game. #Sabres #Leafs
Jarnkrok from Nylander for the SHG. #Leafs cut Sabres lead to 4-3.
Rasmus Dahlin makes it 4-2 4:44 into the second period. Sabres still have 1:51 of power-play time.
Dahlin, 4-2. Samsonov didn't see a thing. #Leafs
Takes nine seconds. Dahlin to the top corner and #Sabres lead 4-2 with still 1:51 left on the second penalty.
Sabres with a 5-on-3 for 1:09 or less.
Tuch with an offensive zone hooking call at 22 seconds. Yeesh. That was ticky-tack. #Sabres #Leafs
Benson 0-2-2 in 1st. Only player on either side with two points. Mittelstadt +3, Benson/Power/Clifton all +2. Skinner only player with 3 SOG. #Sabres #Leafs
3-2 Sabres after one. Shots on goal are 14-10 Buffalo. #Leafs
Just the 8th time in 34 games #Sabres lead after first period. They are 6-0-1 in the first seven. #Leafs are 6-2-4 when trailing after one.
After 20: Sabres lead the Leafs 3-2 and are up 14-10 in shots on goal.
Sabres up 3-2 after one period and have a 14-10 shot advantage. Wildly entertaining 20 minutes.
End-1st: #Sabres lead #Leafs 3-2. Shots are currently listed 14-10 for Buffalo. But things were so frenetic, you know those figures will change.
And now welcome back, Jeff Skinner. Takes a pass from Alex Tuch and puts it into the back of the net. 3-2 Sabres
Skinner, 3-2 Sabres at 15:51. Marner pass along the boards doesn't connect. #Leafs
3-2 Sabres Jeff Skinner from Alex Tuch with 4:09 left in the 1st period. They missed that guy, too. Marner turned it over in the Leafs' zone.
Jeff Skinner scores at 15:51. Sabres up 3-2.
Skinner scores...steal from the corner as Marner couldn't control puck...Tuch pass. #Sabres lead 3-2 at 15:51
#Sabres have to keep shooting. Samsonov is all over the place in the crease. A seal-flopping display. Shots 11-9 for Buffalo with 4:57 left in first. Score 2-2
#Sabres overpassed in tight again but got a break. Samsonov down and out and Power has an empty net for his 2nd. 2-2 at 13:44. We got some pond hockey here.
Owen Power takes advantage of the Sabres going one pass too many as Samsonov and the Leafs D were all scattered and he cashes in to tie it 2-2
Power. 2-2 at 13:44 of the first. Goals are a thing tonight. #Leafs
Sabres tie it. Owen Power collects the rebound created by a Benson-Mittelstadt 2-on-1 and scores on Samsonov as the Leafs goalie is way out of position. 2-2.
Samuelsson breakaway out of the box. Wow. Samsonov save. Jeez. Puck goes to the other end and Domi scores bar down. Double jeez. #Leafs 2, #Sabres 1 at 12:39.
#Leafs, 5-on-3 PP for 22 seconds. Quinn for highsticking at 11:51.
Matthews ties the game, 1-1 #LetsGoBuffalo #LeafsForever https://t.co/q3sOdwqODC
Sabres were off to a nice start. Up 1-0. Outshot the Leafs 6-0 for for almost 7 minutes. Then, they got stuck in their zone, lost a D-zone draw and Matthews beat Levi with a shot from near the right wall.
Auston Matthews with some kind of spin-a-rama goal. 1-1 as Matthews scores on the #Leafs 2nd shot of the game. #Sabres. Matthews now with 12 goals this month for Matthews. This is his 8th game in December,
Matthews, 1-1. The NHL's leading goal scorer finds another way to put the puck in the net. Levi as surprised as anyone. #Leafs
And now the teams are even in bad goals at 1-1. Matthews absolutely burned Levi with a spin move and low shot from the wall between the legs. Tie game at 7:28 on Matthews' 26th. #Sabres #Leafs
Samsonov stops Olofsson from the slot. Shots on goal six minutes in are 6-0 Sabres. #Leafs
#Sabres all over #Leafs in the zone. Samsonov stops Olofsson in the slot and shots are up to 6-0.
Five minutes in, #Sabres outshooting #Leafs 3-0 and leading 1-0.
Greenway, 1-0 Sabres at 2:27. Hits Robertson at one end, beats Samsonov with a long shot at the other. #Leafs
Welcome back, Jordan Greenway. Sends a shot on net from above the left circle and into the net it goes. 1-0 Sabres
Jordan Greenway out of nowhere with a shot and Samsonov didn't seem to be ready for it either -- Sabres snag the lead. Play started up ice with Greenway flattening Nick Robertson in the defensive zone and he gets rewarded with the goal.
Greenway scores. A long muffin that Samsonov absolutely has to stop. Wow. #Sabres lead #Leafs 1-0 at 2:27.
1-0 Sabres Rough one for Samsonov to give up. Seemed to be surprised by Jordan Greenway's shot only 2:27 into the game.
Devon Levi and Ilya Samsonov lead the #Sabres and #Leafs out for warmup.
They’re heeeeeeeere #Leafs #Sabres https://t.co/8iG4p0AOfc
Here is a little peview I did as the #Leafs face the #Sabres tonight as Toronto turns back to Samsonov. https://t.co/wiaUVA07Oc
Leafs Ice Chips from @Tony_Ambrogio - Ilya Samsonov will get the start in Buffalo tonight after Martin Jones started three of the last four games. Samsonov last played a week ago in a 6-5 OT loss to the Blue Jackets: https://t.co/r6sZViPJFV https://t.co/0XSLgEV2Aw
Last seen getting shelled for six by the Columbus Blue Jackets, Ilya Samsonov will be given his first start for the Toronto Maple Leafs in week. @lukefoxjukebox tells us why that is happening. https://t.co/FLIhNGRlos
Another goalie who can fatten up on the #Sabres tonight. Ilya Samsonov starts for #Leafs vs. Levi Samsonov is 5-1-5, 3.51/.878 for the season Last 4 starts: 1-0-3, 3.44/.879 Last 2 starts: 0-0-2, 4.96/.844
Samsonov first #Leafs goalie off the ice
It appears Ilya Samsonov will start for #Leafs against #Sabres.
Ilya Samsonov is doing his usual starter’s routine during the morning skate. He’s the projected starter against the Sabres tonight. @BodogCA
Ilya Samsonov is doing his usual starter’s routine during the morning skate. He’s the projected starter against the Sabres tonight. @BoDoggosNFT
Don Granato is "not certain" Jeff Skinner and Jordan Greenway will play tonight. Zemgus Girgensons won't be ready by Saturday. #Sabres
Jones or Samsonov. Who gets the start in goal tonight? #Leafs set to hold a full skate in Buffalo later this morning. https://t.co/aBzaJgHVkf https://t.co/aBzaJgHVkf
The Sabres are finally getting healthy up front, as Jeff Skinner and Jordan Greenway are close to returning. https://t.co/tJzp70z05F
Sabres finally healthier up front with Jeff Skinner, Jordan Greenway close to returning https://t.co/QWHpmvpFF3
#Sabres back at it and Jeff Skinner has returned to practice. Alex Tuch is out there after taking a puck to the mouth last night. Tough game to have that happen in. https://t.co/MVc6FJrqEx
Sabres have 13 wins when leading at the end of the game. https://t.co/LgpG9TAfFB