Maple Leafs 2, Sabres 1
All-Star Phil Kessel scored his third goal in two nights and Joey Crabb added a shorthanded tally as the Toronto Maple Leafs ended a seven-game losing streak at HSBC Arena with a 2-1 triumph Wednesday over the Buffalo Sabres.
James Reimer made 14 saves in relief for the Maple Leafs, who hadn't won in Buffalo since Dec. 12, 2008. The rookie came on for Jean-Sebastien Giguere, who stopped all nine shots he faced in the first period before leaving with a lower-body injury.
After a scoreless opening session, Toronto broke through at 4:36 of the second when Kessel beat Ryan Miller with a shot from the right hash marks for his 22nd goal of the season. Kessel tallied twice in Tuesday's win over Boston.
Crabb doubled the lead 8 1/2 minutes into the third, picking up a loose puck in the neutral zone and fighting off two defenders before sliding it past Miller for his first goal since March 24, 2009 with Atlanta.
Crabb's tally proved crucial as Paul Gaustad beat Reimer with a bad-angle shot less than two minutes later to get Buffalo on the board.
Miller made 28 saves for the Sabres, who began their six-game homestand with their first regulation loss in six contests (4-1-1).