Buffalo Sabres overpower Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 – NHL Update
Buffalo Sabres gave away the lead once, but successfully managed to hold on the second time as they received an edge to defeat Toronto Maple Leafs, 3-2, on Friday, January 13, 2012 at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, New York, United States.
In the first period, Sabres took a two-goal lead over the opponents, who hit back dramatically to equalise the score in the same period.
Buffalo, however, managed another goal in the next period and this time did well to retain the lead, which became decisive as the final period went scoreless.
"We didn't have much puck luck", Leafs’ coach, Ron Wilson, remarked after losing the game.
"We didn't get enough shots from the middle of the rink to scramble them up. And that's something that let us down. But all in all, I thought we played well".
Sabres got their first scoring opportunity at 1:05 in the first period, when Patrick Kaleta and Paul Gaustad assisted Matt Ellis for his third goal of the 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season.
It was a stroke of luck for the scorer, whose shot was deflected off Leafs’ defenseman, Cody Franson, and went into the net.
The Sabres increased their lead when Paul Gaustad fired a wrist-shot from the right circle.
The puck beat defenseman, Carl Gunnarsson, and goalie, Jonas Gustavsson, going into the net for the second goal of the game.
Buffalo set the mood of the game in the first five minutes with two goals. On the contrary, Leafs dictated the terms in the last five minutes to level things up.
At 14:06, Mikhail Grabovski recovered the puck after it hit the boards and scored his 14th goal of the season.
Nearly two minutes later, Grabovski came into the action once again, utilising a turnover and setting up Joey Crabb, providing the equaliser.
While chasing down the puck in the second period, Thomas Vanek beat two defenders and passed it to Jason Pominville after collecting it.
Pominville received the puck without moving much and sent it past the goalie to get the third goal for Sabres.
Both the teams tried to score, but failed to do so in the rest of the game as Sabres won the game.
"I knew the whole time he was going to make the play", Pominville said about the final goal. "It just landed right on my stick. I just had to settle it down and put it away. It was one of those plays not many guys can make”.
The Leafs have established a four-game winning streak and are now going to face New York Rangers on Saturday.
After winning three straight games, it was a much needed victory for the Sabres. They will now take on New York Islanders on Saturday.
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