Saturday, November 4, 2023 07:00 PM (ET)

Sabres overcome Auston Matthews' hat trick to beat Leafs

Field Level Media
Nov 4, 2023

Alex Tuch scored the go-ahead goal in the third period and then scored into an empty net, and the visiting Buffalo Sabres defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-4 Saturday night.

JJ Peterka had a goal and an assist for the Sabres, and Tage Thompson, Jeff Skinner and Jordan Greenway each scored.

Devon Levi stopped 25 shots for the Sabres, who lost 5-1 on home ice to the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday

Auston Matthews scored three goals for the 10th hat trick of his career for the Maple Leafs, who have lost four in a row. Mitchell Marner had a goal and three assists, and Joseph Woll made 35 saves.

Marner scored his fourth goal of the season at 12:05 of the first period. It came after Calle Jarnkrok's quick pick after a Buffalo turnover put Marner in the clear.

Peterka scored his fifth goal of the season during a power play with a 38-foot shot from the left circle at 16:13 of the first. Toronto had been penalized for having too many men on the ice.

Toronto withstood a five-on-three Buffalo power play early in the second period.

Buffalo did score soon after while killing a penalty. Thompson netted his sixth goal of the season at 6:28 of the second when he broke in alone after a Toronto turnover.

Matthews scored at 11:22 of the second from the slot during a power play. Greenway was off for hooking. William Nylander earned an assist to extend his point streak to 11 games.

Buffalo regained the lead 34 seconds later when Skinner scored his sixth goal this season on a slap shot.

Matthews tied the game 17 seconds into the third period.

Greenway answered with his second goal of the season at 3:11 of the third, but Matthews scored his 11th of the season on a deflection at 7:26.

Tuch scored his second of the season at 12:48 on a deflection, and his empty net goal came at 18:54.

Buffalo defenseman Mattias Samuelsson (lower-body injury) was out Saturday. Buffalo called up Ryan Johnson from Rochester of the American Hockey League, and he had an assist. Dylan Cozens (undisclosed) also was out for Buffalo.

Toronto was without defenseman Timothy Liljegren, who was placed on long-term injured reserve with a sprained ankle on Saturday.

--Field Level Media

Covers 25 Years Logo Established in 1995,
Covers is the world
leader in sports
betting information.
Covers is verified safe by: Evalon Logo GPWA Logo GDPR Logo GeoTrust Logo Evalon Logo