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The Toronto Maple Leafs were able to exorcise the demons that haunt them whenever they visit the city of Buffalo, as James van Riemsdyk scored two goals and added an assist in a 5-2 victory over the Sabres in front of a largely pro-Toronto crowd at Key Bank Center on Thursday.
Connor Carrick, Tyler Bozak and Patrick Marleau also scored for the Leafs, who have won their last three and both ends of back-to-back games. Curtis McElhinney made 38 saves for the win and continued his red-hot hand, after winning in relief of the injured Frederik Andersen on Wednesday.
Van Riemsdyk, who scored a hat trick on Wednesday against Dallas, notched a pair of tallies before the seven-minute mark of the first period that had the big winger reach the 30-goal plateau for the second time and set a new career-high with his 31st goal of the season.
“I think he's been doing what he's been doing all year, just getting a little more luck.” Tyler Bozak said of his linemate after the game. “He’s got 31 goals I think now, so he's been doing a pretty good job all year for us. He's a big reason for our success and he'll be a big reason for our success moving forward. We're going to need him to keep playing well the rest of the way.”
The contest was not without it’s negatives for the Leafs, who lost another player to injury. Winger Leo Komarov left the game after colliding with William Nylander in the second period and did not return. Nylander clipped Komarov’s left leg as he skated backwards in the Toronto zone and the veteran forward needed help to get to the bench and down the tunnel.
Komarov was seen walking with a slight limp in Leafs dressing room after the game and head coach Mike Babcock indicated that he did not believe the injury was of a serious nature.
“I think he’s going to be fine. (It’s) obviously a lower body injury there. I just saw him a second ago walking around, he tells me he did good in all the tests.” Babcock said. “I don’t know if that means missing a game or if that’s playing the next game.”
TSN’s Darren Dreger reported on Friday that Komarov will have an MRI to determine if there is any damage to his knee/thigh area after the collision.
There continues to be a lack of specificity regarding those in the Leafs infirmary, which is consistent with how they have been in most instances this season.
Auston Matthews continues to work out with the club and recuperate from a shoulder injury, as the injured center travelled with the team to Buffalo, but may still not be ready to return for the Leafs St. Patrick’s Day match with the Montreal Canadiens.
No details have been given regarding the mysterious illness that has kept Nikita Zaitsev out of the lineup the last three games and information on the extent of Frederik Andersen’s upper body injury is expected on Saturday.
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