Victor Olofsson scored the go-ahead goal midway through the second period and the visiting Buffalo Sabres defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-1 Wednesday night to end a six-game losing streak.
Jeff Skinner had a goal and an assist for Buffalo. Jacob Bryson, Tage Thompson and Kyle Okposo also scored in the win, while Dylan Cozens added two assists.
Craig Anderson made 29 saves for Buffalo.
Rasmus Sandin scored for the Maple Leafs, whose three-game winning streak ended.
Petr Mrazek, making two consecutive starts for the first time this season, stopped 26 shots for Toronto.
Bryson scored his first goal of the season on a shot from the left point at 2:26 of the first period. The puck was screened by Toronto defenseman Morgan Reilly before going past Mrazek. Alexander Kerfoot was serving a tripping penalty
Sandin scored his fourth goal of the season on a shot from the right circle at 11:49 of the first, converting Michael Bunting’s cross-ice pass.
Toronto had a 6-5 edge in shots on goal after one period.
The Sabres survived the Maple Leafs’ first power play of the game after Okposo was called for hooking at 1:51 of the second period.
Olofsson then scored his eighth of the season off the rebound of Rasmus Asplund’s shot from the right circle at 12:19 of the second period to restore Buffalo’s lead. Soon after the goal, Anderson made two good saves on Pierre Engvall.
At 16:20, Olofsson had his wrist shot hit one post then the other before bouncing away.
Thompson scored from the slot, his 23rd goal of the season, at 18:31 of the second to take advantage of Toronto’s disjointed defense. Toronto led 17-15 in shots on goal after two periods.
Buffalo applied pressure early in the third with Alex Tuch and Thompson having successive chances during one sequence.
Skinner stole the puck in the neutral zone and scored his 21st goal of the season on a breakaway at 6:39 of the third period.
Okposo scored his 14th goal at 11:48 of the third as Buffalo continued to win battles for the puck.
–Field Level Media
