Bozak lifts Leafs past Sabres, 4-3 in shootout
TORONTO (AP) — Tyler Bozak tied the score late in regulation and then had the only goal in the shootout to lift the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 4-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday night.
Jonathan Bernier had 30 saves through overtime and then stopped all three shots he faced in the tiebreaker. Brandon Kozun and Leo Komarov also scored in regulation for Toronto. Rookie defenseman Andrew MacWilliam had an assist for his first point in his NHL debut.
Johan Larsson, Tyler Ennis and Matt Moulson scored for the Sabres. Anders Lindback finished with 31 saves, including one highlight-reel glove stop in overtime on Komarov.
Bozak’s power-play goal with 3:25 remaining tied the score as he tipped in a shot by Phil Kessel.
Moulson had put the Sabres ahead with 8:10 to go in the second period.
Dion Phaneuf gave the puck away to Moulson on Larsson’s goal at 6:52 of the first that opened the scoring. Kozun and Komarov scored 21 seconds apart, the fastest consecutive goals of the season, to give the Leafs the lead with 5 1/2 minutes remaining in the period.
Joffrey Lupul lost his handle on the puck to Moulson, and Ennis was wide open in front to tie it at 2-2 with just under 4 minutes left in the first.
NOTES: Nazem Kadri was again a healthy scratch for the Leafs, who decided to extend the center’s punishment to three games for a pattern of off-ice problems. Kadri missed a team meeting Sunday, and president Brendan Shanahan said Wednesday morning that the 24-year-old “needs to start making better decisions.” … Leafs D Stephane Robidas will have shoulder surgery Thursday.
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