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Tavares' OT Winner Is No. 499 as Maple Leafs Edge Sabres to Snap Three-Game Slide

Toronto now targets defensive fixes before a visit from Calgary.

Overview

  • Toronto beat Buffalo 4-3 in overtime to end a three-game losing streak and return to .500.
  • John Tavares scored the winner for his 499th career goal and has five goals and 12 points through nine games.
  • Jake McCabe delivered a heavy hit on Bowen Byram and fought Alex Tuch in a sequence players and reporters credited with lifting the team, with Tuch penalized as the instigator.
  • Defensive issues remain a concern as the Maple Leafs rank 27th in goals against per game with recurring rush and net-front coverage lapses.
  • Lineup questions persist as Max Domi has been out-scored 8-1 at five-on-five and played 10:29, William Nylander sat out, and Calgary visits Tuesday before a multi-city road trip.