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The Toronto Maple Leafs extended their winning streak to five games with an exciting 4-3 overtime victory against the Buffalo Sabres at Key Bank Center on Tuesday, thanks mostly to the exploits of Auston Matthews, who scored his 15th goal of the season with 2.7 seconds remaining.
The 21-year-old phenom has continued his staggering pace after missing over a month with a shoulder injury, scoring the Leafs opening goal in the second period, assisting on Patrick Marleau’s tying goal late in the third and snapping a rocket shot past Sabres goaltender Linus Ullmark for the victory.
“(Auston) got two goals tonight, but, obviously his skating and his conditioning are – there's nothing you can do until you play. The more he plays and the more he gets through it, the better he's going to be.… Leafs head coach Mike Babcock said after the game. “Any time you've been off, it's going to take you some time. He knows that, but he's a good enough player that he's obviously helping us in the meantime.…
The end result was positive in a venue that traditionally has not been friendly for Toronto, as once again their offensive firepower and Frederik Andersen salvaged two points and their 20th win of the season. The Leafs continue to burden their goaltender with a heavy amount of shots on goal, surrendering 39 shots or more in seven of his last eight starts.
A makeshift fourth line of Frederik Gauthier (playing the wing because of the trade of Josh Leivo), Par Lindholm and Tyler Ennis had a difficult night, as they were directly responsible for Buffalo’s first two goals by Sam Reinhart and Jack Eichel.
Nikita Zaitsev was -3 on the night and Nazem Kadri gave away the puck just inside the Leafs blueline that resulted in Eichel’s go-ahead goal with seven minutes left in regulation.
“At the start of the game, (the Sabres) were quicker than us for whatever reason and then I thought we got it dialed in.… Babcock said. “In my opinion, turned the puck over for one (goal) and lost faceoffs (on) two. All in all, we found a way to win and, obviously, good players do good things.…
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The club did not practice on Wednesday following their overtime win, paying a visit to Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children. Forward William Nylander indicated that he will dress for his first game this season against the Detroit Red Wings at Scotiabank Arena on Thursday before the club begins a stretch of five road games in a row.
It is unknown what effect the return of Nylander will have on the Leafs line combinations. The addition of 22-year-old likely means the scratching of Gauthier, but Babcock said before the game on Tuesday that he did not think it would be beneficial to flip Kasperi Kapanen to left wing to play with Matthews and Nylander, saying that if there was someone who could make the transition easier, it would be Connor Brown.
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Most of the preliminary rosters for the upcoming 2019 World Junior in Vancouver and Victoria have been announced over the last few days and to this point, five Leafs prospects have been named.
Toronto Marlies blueliners Timothy Liljegren (2017 1st rounder), Rasmus Sandin (2018 1st rounder) and forward Pontus Holmberg (2018 6th rounder) were named to the initial roster for Sweden, 19-year-old Filip Kral (2018 5th rounder) was selected by the Czech Republic and goalie Ian Scott (2017-4th rounder), who has a 22-1-1 record with the WHL’s Prince Albert Raiders, was one of three goalies picked by Team Canada.
Leafs GM Kyle Dubas indicated on Monday that both Liljegren and Sandin would be released to play for Sweden if they are selected.
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— Norman James (@NormanJamesTLC) December 5, 2018