Maple Leafs 4, Sabres 3 (SO)
Maple Leafs 4, Sabres 3 (OT): Joffrey Lupul scored the lone goal in the bonus format as host Toronto prevailed in its club-record fourth consecutive shootout.
Phil Kessel had a goal and an assist while Peter Holland and defenseman Jake Gardiner also scored for the Maple Leafs, who survived a tying goal by Buffalo captain Steve Ott with 24.1 seconds left in regulation. Jonathan Bernier made 32 saves en route to his second win in eight starts (2-4-2).
Matt Moulson and John Scott scored 52 seconds apart in the opening period for the Sabres, who tumbled to their ninth consecutive road loss (0-7-2). Ryan Miller made 39 saves but had his three-start winning streak snapped.
The Sabres carried the play in the first 20 minutes and were rewarded when Moulson - who also had an assist - buried the rebound of a shot by Zemgus Girgensons at 7:01. Scott ended a four-year goal-scoring drought when he fired a long rebound into an open net to give Buffalo its first 2-0 first-period lead since March 19.
Toronto stormed back in the middle session, halving the deficit on Gardiner's blast from the point at 11:38 before Mason Raymond set up Holland with a pass from his knees just under five minutes later. Kessel slammed home a backhand feed from James van Riemsdyk on the power play with 17 seconds left in the period, but Ott chipped in a rebound with time winding down in regulation to tie it.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Kessel halted a five-game goalless drought with his team-high 18th tally. ... Scott's second career goal - and first since Nov. 15, 2009 - came in his 200th career game, making him the fifth player in history to register two or fewer tallies in 200 contests. It was also Scott's first goal in 54 games with Buffalo - his first came as a member of the Minnesota Wild. ... Multiple media outlets are reporting that Toronto is poised to sign captain Dion Phaneuf to a lucrative long-term contract extension.