Beating the Toronto Maple Leafs…Twice!
On March 2nd, 2022, the Sabres were riding a six-game losing streak. Fans weren’t interested in watching a team about to face a gauntlet of playoff contenders, starting with their Atlantic Division rival, the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The game started like any other, with the Sabres and Leafs splitting goals after a period. Then the Sabres got hot, with Victor Oloffson, Tage Thompson, Jeff Skinner, and Kyle Okposo overwhelming Leafs goaltender, Petr Mrazek.
The 5-1 thrashing of the Maple Leafs was a game to remember. At least until the teams met at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton 11 days later. After a scoreless first period, the Sabres and Leafs traded blows, with Peyton Krebs and Vinnie Hinostroza putting the Sabres on the board.
In the third, Hinostroza and Krebs struck again, handing the duo multiple-goal games. Late in the third, things got snippy between defenseman Rasmus Dahlin and Leafs forward Auston Matthews, resulting in a two-game ban for Matthews.
However, the chippiness did not reinvigorate the Leafs, as Tage Thompson negated any chance of a comeback with an unassisted goal at the 17:35 mark of the third period. The game also gave goaltender Craig Anderson his 301st career win.