Nazem Kadri pots game-winner as Toronto Maple Leafs edge Buffalo Sabres 3-2 -NHL Update
It was Nazem Kadri’s first goal of the 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season that powered the Toronto Maple Leafs to a, 3-2, victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night, December 22, 2011, at the sold-out Air Canada Centre in Toronto,
Ontario, Canada.
Picked as the seventh overall selection during round-one of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Nazem Kadri, has not showed his true potential in the major league yet, but is hoping that this might be the season for a breakthrough in his career. The 21-year-old currently
has two points (1 goal, 1 assist) in four games played.
After a scoreless first period, the competition heated up as in the Air Canada Centre as Buffalo’s, Jason Pominville, potted the opening goal of the night a little over midway through the second period for his 11th of the season on a power play
opportunity.
Toronto rebounded right back as David Steckel made the equaliser nearly four minutes later and Phil Kessel answered with the tie-breaker for his 20th goal of the year at the 16:54 mark.
Buffalo levelled the match as Derek Roy found the open opportunity in the opening minutes of the third period but Kadri’s first at the 5:52 mark gave Toronto the boost they needed to take the lead and maintain their difference.
Sabres had quite a few more shots on the Toronto net in comparison to the Maple Leafs shooting statistics as Buffalo made 42 attempts on James Reimer, who blocked 40 of those chances while veteran goalie, Ryan Miller, fell short on three out of 31.
Toronto sits at the number six place in the Eastern Conference with 38 points while the Ottawa Senators are also tied with them, making their upcoming games extremely important in regards of position in the division.
The Maple Leafs will now be going on a four-game road trip, starting off against the New York Islanders on Friday while the Buffalo Sabres have to snap their three-game losing streak and will get another chance to do so against the Washington Capitals at
home on Monday.
It will certainly be exciting to see how these two teams progress over the remainder of the season.
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