Maple Leafs lose to Sabres, fail to gain in Atlantic

TORONTO -- The Buffalo Sabres rallied for a 3-2 victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre on Monday, ending Toronto's home winning streak at 13.

The Maple Leafs (45-23-7), who trail the Boston Bruins by seven points for second place in the Atlantic Division, had not lost at home since Jan. 22. The 13-game streak was the longest in the NHL this season.
"As a division rival, you're playing in Toronto, they're an Original Six team, there's a lot of things that go into it, but I just like that we stuck with it the whole game," Sabres coach Phil Housley said. "We played 60 minutes. There were times where we didn't like the way we played, but we did correct it and right the ship in the third period."
WATCH: [All Sabres vs. Maple Leafs highlights]
Jack Eichel scored two goals, Zemgus Girgensons had two assists, and Chad Johnson made 39 saves for the Sabres (24-40-12), who ended a four-game losing streak and have been eliminated from Stanley Cup Playoff contention.
"It goes to show if we do it the right way and all compete together, there were times where they had us on our heels but we figured out a way to get a win, and that's what matters," Eichel said.
Johnson did not find out he would start until 4:15 p.m. ET. Linus Ullmark was the scheduled starter but sustained an upper-body injury during the morning skate and is day to day.
"It's a little bit, I wouldn't say panic, but I always like to prepare more," Johnson said. "I love to go through the routine, but it's just part of the game. I've played a lot of games here, played a lot of hockey, so you just kind of rely on that experience, get your mind ready and play. Obviously, I don't like that situation knowing that late, but that's just what happens."
Nazem Kadri and Patrick Marleau scored, and Frederik Andersen made 24 saves for the Maple Leafs (45-24-7), who are 6-2-0 in their past eight games.

"Our turnovers in the first period in our own zone, I thought we were a little bit loose," Toronto coach Mike Babcock said. "We've got to hit the net; we had so many opportunities in the offensive zone and failed to hit the net. We missed the net. [The stats page] says 26 times we missed the net, so, I mean, that would be part of it too. In the end, we had every opportunity to win; we were a little too loose and we didn't win."
Eichel and Casey Nelson scored goals 1:41 apart in the third period to give Buffalo the lead.
Nelson scored from the point at 7:56 to tie it 2-2. Babcock challenged for goaltender interference, but the goal was upheld after video review.

Eichel made it 3-2 at 9:37 when he put a backhand shot between Andersen's pads.
"I thought Jack's game all night was terrific from start to finish," Housley said. "He really brought it tonight, and it's great to see him step up like he did tonight."
The Maple Leafs scored twice in 71 seconds to take the lead in the second period.
Kadri took a pass from Mitchell Marner, from behind the net and shot from the slot to tie it 1-1 at 17:31. It was Kadri's 30th goal, giving him his second consecutive 30-goal season.
Marleau made it 2-1 at 18:42 when he put in a cross-ice pass from Auston Matthews at the top of the crease on the power play.
The Sabres went up 1-0 at 3:23 of the first period when Eichel took a pass from Girgensons and cut across the crease to put it past Andersen's left pad. It was his first goal in six games since returning from an ankle injury that caused him to miss 15 games.

Goal of the game

Eichel's goal at 9:37 of the third period.

Save of the game

Johnson stopping Kasperi Kapanen at 11:01 of the first period.

Highlight of the game

Andersen's save on Jordan Nolan at 7:44 of the second period.

They said it

"I thought [Chad] Johnson stepped in and did an amazing job. He was confident in the net from start to finish. He swallowed some pucks when we were hemmed in there; he slowed the game down at times. Credit to him, he was our best player." -- Sabres forward Jack Eichel
"He's a good player, there's no doubt about that. He's got speed through the neutral zone, he's a big body and able to protect the puck very well. It seems like he doesn't need much space to get his head up and make a play like most talented players." -- Maple Leafs forward Nazem Kadri on Eichel

Need to know

Marleau played his 700th consecutive game, the second-longest active streak in the NHL behind Florida Panthers defenseman Keith Yandle, who has played 707 in a row.

What's next

Sabres:Host the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; MSG-B, FS-D+, NHL.TV)
Maple Leafs: Host the Florida Panthers on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET; SN, TVAS, FS-F, NHL.TV)