Woll helps Maple Leafs defeat Sabres in NHL debut

BUFFALO -- Joseph Woll won his NHL debut, making 23 saves to help the Toronto Maple Leafs defeat the Buffalo Sabres 5-4 at KeyBank Center on Saturday.

"From the moment I knew I was getting the start it was pretty special," said Woll, who debuted in the same building where he was selected in the third round (No. 62) by Toronto in the 2016 NHL Draft. "It's something you dream of as a kid, and I'm just happy I was able to do it with the Leafs. And then for tonight, I think it was such a special team win. … I can't say enough good things about this team, and it was pretty cool to see how much they had my back out there."
Morgan Rielly scored the game-winner with 12 seconds remaining in the third period, and John Tavares had a goal and an assist for the Maple Leafs (10-5-1), who have won three straight and eight of nine.
Rielly scored from the top of the slot after the Sabres couldn't clear the zone.
"I thought even though we gave up a couple of goals in the third there were some good things going on there," said Rielly, who scored his first goal of the season in his 16th game. "Obviously the power-play scoring in a big moment was important, and then obviously to end up with a win in a back-to-back is good for us."

The Maple Leafs defeated the Calgary Flames 2-1 in overtime at home Friday.
Jeff Skinner had two goals and an assist, and Tage Thompson had a goal and an assist for the Sabres (6-6-2). Aaron Dell made 21 saves in his Buffalo debut.
"We had time to make a play," Buffalo coach Don Granato said of the deciding goal. "We didn't. You could go into a lot, but just there was time to make a play and we didn't. There was a mistake. It happens."
David Kampf gave the Maple Leafs a 1-0 lead at 2:43 of the first period. He slid a shot in the low slot under Sabres defenseman Robert Hagg, who sprawled on the ice to block it, and through Dell's pads.
Skinner tied it 1-1 at 14:42. Colin Miller's shot from the point hit the end boards to the right of the net and bounced to Skinner, who was fresh off the bench in the left face-off circle.
Ondrej Kase extended his goal streak to three games when he scored from the right circle to give Toronto a 2-1 lead at 7:18 of the second period.
"You can see his confidence continue to grow and grow, in himself and comfortable within our system," said Tavares, the Toronto captain. "He's very crafty with the puck, obviously a really good shot, good release. He's competing extremely hard … and contributing in a big way."
Michael Bunting extended the lead to 3-1 at 8:28 when Jake Muzzin's point shot redirected off a stick to Bunting in the right circle with the net open.
Thompson scored on a one-timer from the top of the right circle to cut it to 3-2 at 17:33.
"I think he's playing great," Skinner said. "You got a guy that big (6-foot-7, 218 pounds) and good with the puck in the middle, he's tough for other teams to defend."

Tavares tipped in Rielly's point shot on the power play to make it 4-2 at 9:22 of the third.
Skinner, alone in front, took a pass from Thompson to cut it to 4-3 at 10:47, and Rasmus Dahlin tied it 4-4 at 11:46.
Skinner has scored five goals in 14 games this season after scoring seven in 53 games last season. He and Thompson are tied with Victor Olofsson for the Sabres lead.
"This is no surprise to me, and you guys have seen it," Granato said of Skinner. "He works in practice. The details in his game right now, just the start of the year. He's refocused on a foundation that is now starting to flourish, it's starting to hit a rhythm, and some chemistry with others. … I'm really happy for him because of the underlying work that he hadn't got rewarded for."
NOTES: Woll became the first Maple Leafs goalie to win his NHL debut since Garret Sparks made 24 saves in a 3-0 win against the Edmonton Oilers on Nov. 30, 2015. … Tavares' goal was his 100th with Toronto (216 games).