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Enjoying a two-goal lead for most of the game, the Sabres held off a late flurry by the Maple Leafs and beat Toronto 2-1. Ryan Miller stopped 34 shots as Buffalo improved to 2-0.
The fists started flying just 2:34 into the game. Offseason pickup John Scott went toe-to-toe with Maple Leafs' enforcer Colton Orr. About six and a half minutes later, Cody Hodgson staked Buffalo to a 1-0 lead with his second goal in as many games. Hodgson got in the way of a Christian Ehrhoff slapshot, but the puck glanced off his body and into the Toronto net. Perhaps the story of the opening period was the Sabres' penalty kill. Buffalo killed off consecutive 5-on-3 chances for the Leafs during the latter half of the first and headed to the locker room with a one-goal lead.
Jason Pominville made it a 2-0 lead nearly five minutes into the second frame, taking a feed from Thomas Vanek and whistling a shot past Ben Scrivens. Hodgson helped clear the lane by driving to the net, giving Pominville plenty of time to set up his shot. Buffalo had a chance to go up by three later in the period, but Tyler Ennis couldn't control the puck during a on a 2-on-1 break with Vanek.
After making 13 saves in the first period, Miller stayed sharp in the second, turning aside all eight shots he faced, including a beautiful pad save on John-Michael Liles from close range. The Sabres continued to display their newfound toughness in the second period. Phil Kessel nudged Miller, sending him to the ice, and Patrick Kaleta immediately pounced on the Leafs forward.
The fists started flying just 2:34 into the game. Offseason pickup John Scott went toe-to-toe with Maple Leafs' enforcer Colton Orr. About six and a half minutes later, Cody Hodgson staked Buffalo to a 1-0 lead with his second goal in as many games. Hodgson got in the way of a Christian Ehrhoff slapshot, but the puck glanced off his body and into the Toronto net. Perhaps the story of the opening period was the Sabres' penalty kill. Buffalo killed off consecutive 5-on-3 chances for the Leafs during the latter half of the first and headed to the locker room with a one-goal lead.
Jason Pominville made it a 2-0 lead nearly five minutes into the second frame, taking a feed from Thomas Vanek and whistling a shot past Ben Scrivens. Hodgson helped clear the lane by driving to the net, giving Pominville plenty of time to set up his shot. Buffalo had a chance to go up by three later in the period, but Tyler Ennis couldn't control the puck during a on a 2-on-1 break with Vanek.
After making 13 saves in the first period, Miller stayed sharp in the second, turning aside all eight shots he faced, including a beautiful pad save on John-Michael Liles from close range. The Sabres continued to display their newfound toughness in the second period. Phil Kessel nudged Miller, sending him to the ice, and Patrick Kaleta immediately pounced on the Leafs forward.
Toronto made things interesting in the game's final minutes, especially after Nazem Kadri cut the lead in half, burying a power play rebound past Miller for his second goal of the season. The play provided a lift to the Leafs, who peppered Miller with shots for the remainder of the game. Toronto appeared to tie it at one point, however the goal was disallowed as Joffrey Lupul punched the puck into the net with his glove.
The Sabres remain on the road for their next game, Thursday at Carolina. Hear the call on WGR SportsRadio 550 and the Buffalo Sabres Radio Network at 7 p.m.
1st Period
Goals
8:51 - BUF - Cody Hodgson (2) (Christian Ehrhoff, Jason Pominville)
Penalties
Penalties
2:34 - BUF - John Scott (5 min., fighting)
2:34 - TOR - Colton Orr (5 min., fighting)
2:34 - TOR - John-Michael Liles (2 min., cross-checking)
2:34 - BUF - Patrick Kaleta (2 min., unsportsmanlike conduct)
9:11 - BUF - Cody Hodgson (2 min., tripping)
14:24 - BUF - Drew Stafford (2 min., interference)
14:45 - BUF - Tyler Myers (2 min., unsportsmanlike conduct)
16:01 - BUF - Steve Ott (2 min., closing hand on puck)
2nd Period
Goals
4:51 - BUF - Jason Pominville (1) (Thomas Vanek)
Penalties
7:06 -TOR - Carl Gunnarsson (2 min., interference)
9:40 - BUF - Patrick Kaleta (2 min., roughing)
9:40 - TOR - Phil Kessel (2 min., goaltender interference)
2:34 - TOR - John-Michael Liles (2 min., cross-checking)
2:34 - BUF - Patrick Kaleta (2 min., unsportsmanlike conduct)
9:11 - BUF - Cody Hodgson (2 min., tripping)
14:24 - BUF - Drew Stafford (2 min., interference)
14:45 - BUF - Tyler Myers (2 min., unsportsmanlike conduct)
16:01 - BUF - Steve Ott (2 min., closing hand on puck)
2nd Period
Goals
4:51 - BUF - Jason Pominville (1) (Thomas Vanek)
Penalties
7:06 -TOR - Carl Gunnarsson (2 min., interference)
9:40 - BUF - Patrick Kaleta (2 min., roughing)
9:40 - TOR - Phil Kessel (2 min., goaltender interference)
11:13 - BUF - Thomas Vanek (2 min., tripping)
15:15 - TOR - Clarke MacArthur (2 min., interference)
17:49 - BUF - Patrick Kaleta (10 min. misconduct)
17:49 - TOR - Mike Brown (10 min. misconduct)
15:15 - TOR - Clarke MacArthur (2 min., interference)
17:49 - BUF - Patrick Kaleta (10 min. misconduct)
17:49 - TOR - Mike Brown (10 min. misconduct)
19:30 - TOR - James van Riemsdyk (2 min., tripping)
3rd Period
Goals
18:18 - TOR - Nazem Kadri (PPG) (2) (Mike Kostka, Tyler Bozak)
Penalties
5:41 - TOR - Mark Fraser (5 min., fighting)
5:41 - BUF - Marcus Foligno (5 min., fighting)
18:14 - BUF - Patrick Kaleta (2 min., roughing)
19:52 - BUF - Cody Hodgson (2 min., tripping)
Power Play
BUF - 0 of 3
TOR - 1of 7
Goaltending
BUF - Ryan Miller (34 saves, 35 shots)
TOR - Ben Scrivens (18 saves, 20 shots)
Three Stars
1.) Ryan Miller (34 saves)
2.) Jason Pominville (1 G, 1 A)
3.) Dion Phaneuf (0 G, 0 A)
3rd Period
Goals
18:18 - TOR - Nazem Kadri (PPG) (2) (Mike Kostka, Tyler Bozak)
Penalties
5:41 - TOR - Mark Fraser (5 min., fighting)
5:41 - BUF - Marcus Foligno (5 min., fighting)
18:14 - BUF - Patrick Kaleta (2 min., roughing)
19:52 - BUF - Cody Hodgson (2 min., tripping)
Power Play
BUF - 0 of 3
TOR - 1of 7
Goaltending
BUF - Ryan Miller (34 saves, 35 shots)
TOR - Ben Scrivens (18 saves, 20 shots)
Three Stars
1.) Ryan Miller (34 saves)
2.) Jason Pominville (1 G, 1 A)
3.) Dion Phaneuf (0 G, 0 A)