TORONTO – John Tavares secured his 14th career hat trick with a remarkable performance, scoring twice in the second period and adding an empty-net goal as the Toronto Maple Leafs overcame a 3-1 deficit to triumph over the Buffalo Sabres with a 5-3 final score on Sunday.
In addition to Tavares’ efforts, Max Domi and Nicholas Robertson contributed significantly by each netting a goal and providing an assist for the Maple Leafs (19-10-2).
Dennis Hildeby stepped up as the goaltender, recording 24 saves in only his third NHL start after being called up from the American Hockey League due to Anthony Stolarz’s injury.
For the Sabres (11-16-4), Jack Quinn shined by scoring two goals, while Alex Tuch added another. JJ Peterka was instrumental with two assists.
Meanwhile, Devon Levi was busy in net for Buffalo, stopping 36 shots, but the team extended its winless streak to 10 games, with a record of 0-7-3 during that span. Their last victory came on November 23 when they defeated the San Jose Sharks 4-2 on the road.
In notable updates for the teams, the Leafs placed Anthony Stolarz on injured reserve prior to the match after he appeared to sustain a right leg injury in Thursday’s 3-2 win against the Anaheim Ducks. He may be eligible to return on Friday when the Leafs visit Buffalo.
For the Sabres, Quinn managed to break a 16-game goal drought that dated back to October 26. The 23-year-old, who had been a healthy scratch for five consecutive games leading up to Sunday, had not scored since an empty-net goal against the Detroit Red Wings.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when Toronto was behind 3-1 during the second period. Robertson brought them within one, and just over a minute later, Tavares found the back of the net to tie the game before scoring again 70 seconds later. This remarkable flurry of goals lifted Toronto to a 4-3 advantage as they scored three times within a short span of just 2:31.
Additionally, it was noteworthy that Domi scored his first goal of the season in his 23rd game appearance after previously missing seven contests due to a lower-body injury.
Looking ahead, the Maple Leafs are set to face the Dallas Stars on Wednesday, while the Sabres will take on the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday.
