Maple Leafs 4, Sabres 3 (SO)
Joffrey Lupul scored the decisive goal in the second round of the shootout as host Toronto won its third straight contest and improved to 9-4 in the bonus format.
After the Maple Leafs were unable to capitalize on a power-play opportunity in overtime, James van Riemsdyk and Lupul scored in the first two rounds of the shootout before James Reimer (27 saves) used his glove to deny Cody Hodgson. Ryan Miller (36 saves) nearly extended the contest, but he couldn't prevent Tyler Bozak's bid from trickling over the goal line.
Phil Kessel netted his team-leading 22nd goal while Nikolai Kulemin and rookie defenseman Morgan Rielly also tallied for Toronto, which has won three in a row on five occasions this season.
Matt Moulson scored his ninth goal in eight contests and Hodgson added a power-play tally for the 100th point of his career. Matt Ellis also scored and defenseman Tyler Myers notched an assist in his return from a three-game suspension for the Sabres, who fell for the third time this season in Toronto and dropped to 1-7-2 in their last 10 visits.
After Reimer denied rookie Zemgus Girgensons' backhanded attempt on a penalty shot early in the second period, Moulson's blast from the left faceoff circle beat Reimer at 6:34 - although replays showed that the puck caromed off the elbow of the crossbar and right post. Kulemin answered 49 seconds later and Rielly gave Toronto the lead at 11:22 before Hodgson forged a 3-3 tie by backhanding a loose puck off Reimer and into the net just 43 seconds into the third.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Girgensons registered 13 hits, the most in an NHL game this season. ... Hodgson has recorded two goals and two assists in three games since returning from an upper-body injury. ... Buffalo's Drew Stafford returned from a four-game absence due to an upper-body injury, but fellow RW Matt D'Agostini exited the contest in the first period with the same ailment.