Maple Leafs 4, Sabres 3 (SO)
TORONTO -- Left winger Joffrey Lupul scored the only goal in the shootout as the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Buffalo Sabres 4-3 on Friday.
The Sabres tied the game 3-3 with 24.1 seconds left in the third period on the fifth goal of the season by center Steve Ott.
The goal that forced overtime came after a scramble around the net on a power play and with Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller removed for an extra attacker. Maple Leafs defenseman Dion Phaneuf had been sent off for hooking at 19:09.
Right winger Phil Kessel, defenseman Jake Gardiner and center Peter Holland scored in regulation for the Maple Leafs (19-16-5), who lost their two previous games in shootouts.
Left wingers Matt Moulson and John Scott also scored for the Sabres (10-24-4), who won three of their four previous games and took a 2-0 lead in the first period on Friday.
Goaltender Jonathan Bernier made 32 saves for Toronto while Miller stopped 37 shots.
After falling behind by two goals, the Maple Leafs scored three in the second period to take a 3-2 lead.
Gardiner started it with his second goal of the season, a slap shot from the blue line at 11:38 of the second. Holland tied it at 16:25 on a pass from left winger Mason Raymond, who was being tripped in the process. Raymond picked up the puck after defenseman Jamie McBain failed to control a dump in from center by Maple Leafs defenseman Cody Franson, who had two assists on the game.
Kessel converted a pass from left winger James van Riemsdyk on a power play for his 18th goal of the season to put the Maple Leafs into a 3-2 lead at 19:43 of the period -- 27 seconds after Scott was sent off for high-sticking.
Buffalo struck for goals 52 seconds apart in the first period and emerged with a 2-0 lead after one period for the first time this season.
Center Zemgus Girgensons did the work on the first goal, fighting off Holland all the way. Girgensons took the puck behind the net from the right corner. After working it out to the left of the goal, he took a backhand shot while falling. Moulson batted in the rebound at 7:01 for his 13th goal of the season.
Scott picked up his first goal in 164 games by burying a wrist shot at 7:53 after Bernier allowed a big rebound on a flip shot from outside the blue line by left winger Matt Ellis. Ellis, who lugged the puck out of the Buffalo end, took a swipe at his own rebound but missed before Scott connected. It was Scott's 200th NHL game. His only other NHL goal came Nov. 15, 2009, against Carolina when he was with Minnesota.
NOTES: Maple Leafs C Tyler Bozak (strained oblique), who has missed the 12 consecutive games, said he expects to be in the lineup on Sunday against the Carolina Hurricanes. He has played only 16 games this season. ... Maple Leafs C Dave Bolland (ankle) and C Trevor Smith (hand) remained on injured reserve. ... Sabres C Cody Hodgson (wrist) was out for the third straight game, but LW Ville Leino, LW Marcus Foligno and LW Linus Omark returned to the lineup after missing the win on Monday over Phoenix because of illness. ... Sabres C Cody McCormick (upper body) and C Kevin Porter (lower body) remained on injured reserve. ... The Sabres return home on Sunday to play the Washington Capitals.
