The Buffalo Sabres were looking to get back on track against a Toronto Maple Leafs team that is reeling. While the Maple Leafs did win in their last game, a 6-4 victory over the Anaheim Ducks, they lost the last nine games that ended any playoff hopes. On top of that, this is the first game without Auston Matthews after he suffered a season-ending knee injury against the Ducks.
This was a game that the Sabres had to win and were able to jump out to an early 1-0 lead against Toronto. However, the Maple Leafs responded with a goal after a Luke Schenn turnover.
The Maple Leafs would not only tie the game but then take the lead in the second period. However, the Sabres responded with a power-play goal to tie it back up heading into the third period.
Neither team was able to score in the third period, although the Sabres were clearly the better team in the final period of regulation. It would go to overtime, and then a shootout before the Sabres would finally secure the two points.
In the shootout, it was Jack Quinn and Alex Tuch who scored in the shootout while Lyon stopped the two shots he faced.
The Sabres now hit the road with four straight games starting on Tuesday against the Vegas Golden Knights. These are some of the takeaways from Saturday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Owen Power is heating up at the right time
The Buffalo Sabres once again got out to an early lead as Owen Power was able to score the first goal of the game just over two minutes into the first period. While Power got the goal, it was a great play by Zach Benson, who was able to hold onto the puck along the boards before passing it back into the middle, where Power was waiting.
It is Power's seventh goal of the season, and he was able to tie his career-high in the category with the goal against the Maple Leafs. He has a great chance to set a new career-high this season, with over 10 games still left in the regular season, as he now has three goals in just the past seven games
Buffalo Sabres need to split the Luke Schenn-Logan Stanley pair
While the Buffalo Sabres got Alex Tuch back after he missed one game, they were without another key player as Mattias Samuelsson was ruled out. The fact that Samuelsson was unable to go, it felt like a perfect chance for the Sabres to get Michael Kesselring back in the lineup.
Surprisingly, though, the Sabres elected to once again go with Luke Schenn and Logan Stanley as the third pair. However, it was more of the same from their first game as they struggled, and other teams were able to capitalize on their mistakes.
In the first period, Stanley and Schenn each had chances to clear the puck but couldn't get it out of their zone. The Maple Leafs, specifically Dakota Joshua, were able to convert the turnover into their first goal of the game.
The coaching staff is going to have some big decisions coming up in who that third pair is going to be, as they have Schenn, Stanley, Kesselring, Metsa, and Conor Timmins (who returned to practice on Saturday) to choose from when everyone is healthy. However, after two games, the coaching staff can scrap the pair of Schenn and Stanley as an option.
Noah Ostlund with the play of the game
The Buffalo Sabres, down 2-1 in the second period, needed something to go their way or have someone make a play to shift the momentum. That player was Noah Ostlund on the power play in the second period.
On the power play, Ostlund would get the pass from Ryan McLeod at the top of the crease. Without giving it a second thought would continue the puck on behind the back to Jack Quinn, who would score the Sabres' second goal of the game.
This no-look pass from Noah Ostlund is TOO NICE 🥵 pic.twitter.com/sQBLKqpbV4
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) March 15, 2026
Noah Ostlund has been making big plays as of late and now has five assists in seven games, including two power-play assists in the past four games. It is something the Sabres are going to need him to keep up through the remainder of the season and into the playoffs.
Buffalo Sabres wake up in the third period
The Buffalo Sabres jumped out to an early lead, but similar to the game against the Washington Capitals, they lost their edge as the game went along. The Capitals were able to take advantage of that and score two straight to win 2-1.
On Saturday, the Sabres got the early lead, and the Maple Leafs seemed to take momentum back and also the lead as they would score two straight. However, the Quinn power-play goal was able to tie the game back up before the final period.
In the third period, the Sabres got back to playing the hockey that fans have seen so frequently during their recent stretch of games. They were controlling the puck, beating the Maple Leafs with their speed and putting shots on net. In the third period, the Sabres had nine shots on goal compared to only two by the Maple Leafs.
The fact that the Sabres were able to get two points, even if it was closer than anyone would have liked, should help give them some momentum going into this road trip.