Sabres 4 - 1 Maple Leafs
Final
  for this game

Leafs, Sabres trying to turn things around

Jan 1, 2009 - 11:30 AM Buffalo (17-15-5) at Toronto (15-16-6), 7:00 p.m. EST

TORONTO (Ticker) -- A pair of Northeast Division rivals looking to get untracked meet Thursday when the Toronto Maple Leafs host the Buffalo Sabres.

The Maple Leafs are 1-3-0 over their last four games while the Sabres have just one win in their last five games (1-2-2).

As has been the case most of the season, Toronto's woes can be traced to poor defense and inconsistent goaltending.

The team is allowing 3.49 goals per contest, which is third-worst in the NHL ahead of only the New York Islanders and Atlanta Thrashers.

The Maple Leafs picked up a 4-3 win over Atlanta on Tuesday, but have allowed 32 goals over their last seven contests, giving up eight in a game twice during that stretch.

Toronto workhorse Vesa Toskala - who has appeared in 32 games this season - is likely to be back in net Thursday after taking a night off against the Thrashers.

Veteran Curtis Joseph played in that contest, earning his first win since April and the 450th of his career.

Buffalo netminder Ryan Miller also has been heavily relied on this season, but has been up to the task with a 2.63 goals-against average and .910 save percentage in 30 games.

The Sabres, who dropped a 4-2 decision to Washington on Tuesday, continue to get contributions from Thomas Vanek and Derek Roy, who lead the team in scoring with 32 and 31 points, respectively.








  • ------------------------------------
    Buffalo
    0 3 1 --4
    Toronto 0 0 1 --1
    ------------------------------------

    FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: A Kotalik, Buf (hooking), 11:02; L
    Stempniak, Tor (interference), 14:56; T Vanek, Buf (hooking), 15:21.

    SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Buffalo, Jason Pominville 11 (power play)
    (Derek Roy, Jaroslav Spacek), 6:50. 3, Bu

    Jan 1 9:31 PM


  • NHL
    BUFFALO 4
    TORONTO 1
    3RD PRD: TOR - JOHN MITCHELL 3 (JAMAL MAYERS, IAN WHITE) 8:29

    Sabres 4, Maple Leafs 1  3rd - 11:31Jan 1 9:06 PM


  • NHL
    BUFFALO 4
    TORONTO 0
    3RD PRD: BUF - (PP) DEREK ROY 13 (THOMAS VANEK, DREW STAFFORD) 5:58

    Sabres 4, Maple Leafs 0  3rd - 14:02Jan 1 9:02 PM


  • NHL
    END OF THE 2ND 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
    --- --- --- -----
    BUFFALO 0 3 3
    TORONTO 0 0 0 END OF THE 2ND
    GOAL SCORING:
    1ST PRD: NONE
    2ND PRD: BUF - (PP) JASON POMINVILLE 11 (DEREK ROY, JAROSLAV SPACEK)
    6:50
    BUF - DEREK ROY 12 (THOMAS VANEK, DREW STAFFORD) 9:11
    BUF - JASON POMINVILLE 12 (UNASSISTED) 11:28
    MISSED PENALTY SHOTS: TOR

    Jan 1 8:36 PM


  • NHL
    BUFFALO 3
    TORONTO 0
    2ND PRD: BUF - JASON POMINVILLE 12 (UNASSISTED) 11:28

    Sabres 3, Maple Leafs 0  2nd - 8:32Jan 1 8:22 PM


  • NHL
    BUFFALO 2
    TORONTO 0
    2ND PRD: BUF - DEREK ROY 12 (THOMAS VANEK, DREW STAFFORD) 9:11

    Sabres 2, Maple Leafs 0  2nd - 10:49Jan 1 8:20 PM


  • NHL
    BUFFALO 1
    TORONTO 0
    2ND PRD: BUF - (PP) JASON POMINVILLE 11 (DEREK ROY, JAROSLAV SPACEK)
    6:50

    Sabres 1, Maple Leafs 0  2nd - 13:10Jan 1 8:15 PM


  • NHL
    END OF THE 1ST 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
    --- --- --- -----
    BUFFALO 0 0
    TORONTO 0 0 END OF THE 1ST
    GOAL SCORING:
    1ST PRD: NONE
    MISSED PENALTY SHOTS: TOR - NIKLAS HAGMAN, 19:00 1ST.
    SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
    --- --- --- -----
    BUF 7 7
    TOR 9 9
    GOALIES: BUF - RYAN MILLER
    T

    Jan 1 7:46 PM

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