Sabres 2, Maple Leafs 1 (SO)
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Left winger Matt Moulson scored the decisive shootout goal, leading the Buffalo Sabres to a 2-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday night.
Moulson's game-winner came in the fifth round of the shootout. Moulson waited for Toronto goalie Jonathan Bernier to commit before calmly skating to his left and shooting the puck into the open net.
Center Tyler Ennis also scored in the shootout for Buffalo (2-4-0). Sabres left winger Evander Kane scored in regulation, and goalie Chad Johnson made 23 saves.
Right winger P.A. Parenteau scored in regulation and the shootout for the Maple Leafs (1-3-2). Goalie Jonathan Bernier made 34 saves.
Neither team was able to find the back of the net during a frantic three-on-three overtime session, though the Maple Leafs came close.
Center Nazem Kadri had Toronto's two best chances. He hit the crossbar on a partial breakaway with 3:34 remaining in the extra session, and he was stopped from point-blank range on a backhand attempt with 1:33 remaining.
Maple Leafs left winger James van Riemsdyk was all alone in front of the Sabres' net with three seconds remaining in overtime, but his shot was off target.
Kane tied the game with a hard wrist shot from the left circle with 4:29 remaining in regulation. With Buffalo turning up the pressure, a giveaway by Kadri fell directly to Kane, and the power forward put away his first goal of the year.
Parenteau opened the scoring just 1:28 into the game. He redirected defenseman Roman Polak's long shot from the point, and the puck skipped into the net.
The game was largely even, with both sides creating a fair number of chances. Buffalo's offense gained momentum as the game went on, and the Sabres outshot Toronto 35-24 through regulation and overtime.
There also was plenty of physical play, with one exchange coming shortly before the halfway point of the third period. Kane got the better of a collision with defenseman Dion Phaneuf in front of the Toronto bench, as Kane's stick struck Phaneuf in the face just before the collision. Phaneuf pled his case afterward, but Kane did not receive a penalty.
The Sabres are 16-1-1 in their past 17 home games against the Maple Leafs.
NOTES: Sabres C David Legwand and D Carlo Colaiacovo were healthy scratches. ... After missing Monday's practice, Sabres D Cody Franson (undisclosed) was healthy enough to play against his former team. G Robin Lehner (high ankle sprain), C Cody McCormick (blood clot), D Zach Bogosian (lower body) and D Bobby Sanuinetti (lower body) remain on injured reserve. ... Maple Leafs D Frank Corrado (healthy), C Tyler Bozak (lower body) and D Jake Gardiner (undisclosed) were scratched. Bozak has missed two straight games, though he is considered day to day. ... This was the first of four meetings between the teams this season. The next one takes place March 7 in Toronto.