Leafs pay for mistakes against Sabres

The Leafs hung with the Northeast Division leaders for 60 minutes, actually leading last night’s game with eight minutes left to play.

In fact the third period was moving along with the Leafs defending well and on their way to a 12-6 shot advantage in the third period.

Good teams take advantage of their opportunities and the Sabres did that as Jochen Hecht trapped a loose puck in a rare defensive lapse by the Leafs and fired it behind Jonas Gustavsson.

The Leafs pretty much played mistake-free through the end of the period and early into the overtime frame.

Then on a faceoff that they actually won, in their own end, both forwards Phil Kessel and Mikhail Grabovski were guilty of thinking offense, while their defense pairing of Ian White and Francois Beauchemin were struggling to control the puck. Buffalo’s fore checking pressure cause a bobble and before you knew it Hecht struck again, finding Derek Roy alone in front of the Monster for the game-winner.

Two brief lapses proved costly in the end.

Still, Toronto gets a valuable point and youngsters, Nikolai Kulemin, who played another determined two way game, and Victor Stalberg, with his second goal in three games since being called up, both impressed again.

One other aspect of the Leaf attack was their desire to drive to the net without the puck. Against the hottest goalie in the league, Ryan Miller, they really earned their pair of goals and could easily have had more.

A similar effort will be good enough to win most nights.

Up next, a trip to visit the New York Islanders, one of three Eastern Conference clubs who now trail Toronto.

The Leafs challenge will be to keep them right where they are.

Tags: Buffalo Sabres, francois beauchemin, Ian White, jonas gustavsson, Mikhail Grabovski, Phil Kessel, Toronto Maple Leafs