TAVARES LOCKS UP WIN WITH EMPTY-NET GOAL, BUT OTHER LEAFS SHINE IN THIRD STRAIGHT WIN
3. Buffalo battled hard hard to tie the score, out-shooting Toronto 12-8 in the third. But they couldn't solve Leafs netminder Curtis McEhlhinney, and Tavares sealed the win for Toronto by firing the puck into the empty net for his second of the game and fourth of the pre-season. And it wasn't just Tavares who impressed: Engvall made a number of smart, slick plays, and McElhinney stopped all 20 Sabres shots he saw.
As well, Toronto forward Semyon Der-Arguchintsev made his professional debut by playing 11:48, including 35 seconds of power play time. After the game, the Leafs announced they'd signed the 18-year-old Russian to a three-year, entry-level NHL contract, so Leafs Nation should expect to see him receive his share of opportunities to grow his game and help the team in the years to come.
Toronto's next game comes Saturday night in Buffalo. It's safe to expect the second group of Leafs - the ones who beat the Senators 4-1 Wednesday in Ottawa - to get their turn at impressing Babcock. If this game was any indication, it won't be easy, but with smart, hard work like we saw Friday, victory over this evolving Sabres squad is definitely possible.