For the latest Leafs updates or Follow @mikeinbuffalo on Twitter As it has been the case for most of their 50-year rivalry with the Buffalo Sabres, the Toronto Maple Leafs finds new and inventive ways to lose. In front of a building packed with their fans and against a club that had lost 11 of their last 13 games, the Leafs failed to take advantage of early scoring chances, squandered a two-goal lead with poor defensive play and subpar goaltending in a 6-4 loss to the Sabres at Key Bank Center on Friday afternoon. John Tavares opened the scoring with a pair of goals, but Toronto allowed the Sabres to take control with four goals in the middle frame. Dmytro Timashov and Kasperi Kapanen tallied in the third period as the Leafs attempted to stage a late comeback, but the Sabres maintained their lead and handed new head coach Sheldon Keefe his first NHL coaching loss. “We were really sloppy with the puck in important spots, things that we spoke about in-between periods after the first and didn't adjust well and didn't take care of it.… Keefe said after the game. “That's an area we have to clean up. I thought we just handed them the puck in bad spots. Dangerous shooters, that made it hard.… Toronto failed to seize on a number of scoring chances (including a pair of breakaways by William Nylander, another by Kasperi Kapanen, and four power-play opportunities) and failed to get a big save when they needed it from backup Michael Hutchinson, who allowed five goals on 36 Buffalo shots. “You’re 0-for-3 on breakaways and don't play a very good hockey game, yet push back in the third enough to make it a fight right to the end and end up losing by one goal plus the empty net. There's a lot of encouraging signs there that are positives for us. But there’s still lots of lessons to be learned.… Keefe said. “I think there will be a lot of focus on Hutch (for the loss), but there's a lot more going on in the game than just that. We're in a good spot, I thought Hutch played an excellent first period, allowed us to get out of there with the 1-0 lead and build on that lead. I just didn't think we took care of it very well.… The Leafs have only one of a possible 14 points in the seven games this season started by goalies other than Frederik Andersen, but if you look at their record going back to the second half of last season, Toronto has just two wins in 15 games started by Garret Sparks, Hutchinson or Kasimir Kaskisuo. The goaltending depth has been an issue since the decision by GM Kyle Dubas to waive veteran Curtis McElhinney in favor of Sparks 13 months ago. Although Keefe and the players said the right things in support of their backup before and after the game, it is getting to the point where Dubas must find a solution to the club’s goalie woes before it ends up costing them a playoff spot. Another factor in the loss to Buffalo was the performance of the Leafs top line. Buffalo’s Jack Eichel continued his success against Toronto with a three-point, +4 night (2G, 1A), while Auston Matthews was held scoreless playing a season-high 24:48, and went -3 (including a particularly brutal giveaway on Jimmy Vesey’s game-winner). Andreas Johnsson was -3 as well, and Nylander went -4 in just over 23 minutes of ice time. The Leafs will make at least one lineup change other than Frederik Andersen going in the second of back-to-back games. With the return of Alex Kerfoot after serving his two-game suspension for cross-checking Colorado’s Eric Johnson last Saturday, Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston reports that Jason Spezza took the optional skate this morning and may be given the night off. Sabres head coach Ralph Kreuger confirmed that Carter Hutton will get the start. *******
The podcast is on podcast. Enjoy. @MikeInBuffalo @IamNormanJames https://t.co/20g5cZgCN0
— The Leafs Convo (@TheLeafsConvo) November 25, 2019