BUFFALO, N.Y. — In a triumphant return to the ice, Matt Murray recorded 25 saves in his first NHL start in nearly 21 months, helping the Toronto Maple Leafs secure a 6-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night. With this win, the Sabres extended their winless streak to 0-9-3.

The Maple Leafs’ depth was on full display, as third-line players Max Domi, Bobby McMann, and Nicholas Robertson all contributed with a goal and an assist each. The team’s strong performance marked their fifth victory in six games, reinforcing their position as the leaders in the Atlantic Division. Additionally, stars Auston Matthews, Max Pacioretty, and William Nylander each found the back of the net.

Murray was called up from the minors earlier in the day to fill in for Anthony Stolarz, who is expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks due to knee surgery. The two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Pittsburgh Penguins faced setbacks last season, having undergone bilateral hip surgery that kept him off the ice for a significant period; his last appearance was on March 25, 2023, in a loss against Carolina.

The Sabres saw contributions from JJ Peterka, Mattias Samuelsson, and Owen Power, who each notched a goal and an assist. Buffalo’s Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen faced nine shots before being replaced, as Domi scored during a 2-on-1 break, pushing the score to 4-1 just over four minutes into the second period. James Reimer came in as relief and allowed one goal while stopping 15 shots.

In terms of takeaways, the Maple Leafs delivered a much-needed boost of confidence to Murray by defeating the Eastern Conference’s weakest team for the second time within just five days. Conversely, the Sabres appear to be stuck in a rut, and general manager Kevyn Adams must determine the appropriate moment for a roster shake-up, especially with the NHL’s Christmas freeze looming.

A critical moment in the game occurred when two Buffalo goals were disallowed. The first, by Alex Tuch, came just 65 seconds after McMann scored but was nullified due to a high-sticking call against Jason Zucker. Later, Power had a goal called back with 3:26 remaining in the game after Toronto successfully challenged for goalie interference against Sam Lafferty.

Notably, Buffalo’s current winless streak ties for their fifth-longest in history, mirroring a disappointing 0-15-3 run from 2021.

Looking ahead, the Maple Leafs are set to host the New York Islanders on Saturday, while the Sabres will travel to Boston to take on the Bruins.