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The Toronto Maple Leafs rallied from a two-goal deficit with three second-period goals and James van Riemsdyk’s power play game-winner in a 4-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres at Air Canada Center on Tuesday.
The win, the first in regulation for Toronto at home since November 26th, was overshadowed by the loss of defenseman Morgan Rielly, who did not return to the game after being injured in the first period.
Rielly awkwardly fell after being check by Buffalo forward William Carrier in the first period and limped to the Toronto bench. The 22-year-old blueliner, who along with defense partner Nikita Zaitsev lead the Leafs in ice time with over 22 minutes per game, went to the locker room after returning to the ice to test out his leg and did not return to the game.
Buffalo took advantage of a sluggish start by the Leafs, who surrendered the opening goal on a careless clearing attempt by goalie Frederik Andersen that Kyle Okposo converted for his 13th goal of the season. Evander Kane extended the lead to 2-0 with his 12th of the year in the final minute of the first.
The Leafs rebounded quickly, as Leo Komarov drove to the net and deflected a Nazem Kadri pass past Sabres goalie Robin Lehner 32 seconds into the middle frame. Matt Martin scored an ugly goal from an odd angle that dribbled through Lehner’s pads to tie it and Auston Matthews notched his 22nd of the year to give Toronto a lead they would not relinquish.
Van Riemsdyk added his 16th of the season with the man advantage in the third, but Carrier narrowed the margin to 4-3 with 2:23 left in regulation, batting a Zemgus Girgensons pass out of mid-air past Andersen.
Rielly’s ice time was divvied up mostly between Jake Gardiner and Matt Hunwick. Gardiner(29:24) and Hunwick (27:32) each reached their season-high in TOI, while Roman Polak played over 20 minutes on the night.
“[Rielly] is a huge factor. We've had lots of success this year with no injuries. Our medical staff has done a real nice job, but injuries wear you down.” Leafs coach Mike Babcock said after the game. “What happens when you get injured is you play fewer guys more and it usually leads to more. We've got to manage this well. I don't know if he's out a week or 10 days or a month. I don't have a clue.”
Babcock indicated that the club’s medical staff did not know the extent of Rielly’s injury, but that more would be known after he is checked out on Wednesday.
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On this week’s Blue N’ White Tonight podcast, the round table looks at another successful week for the Toronto Maple Leafs and an interview with the Toronto Sun’s Mike Zeisberger.
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