BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Sabres’ winless road trip extended into a home loss against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night, keeping coach Lindy Ruff from his 900th career victory.
Anthony Stolarz made 36 saves in his eighth consecutive victory, Steven Lorentz scored the go-ahead goal in the second period, Mitch Marner tallied his 100th point with a goal in the third, Auston Matthews scored the 400th of his career and 32nd this season into the empty net, and Toronto clinched the Atlantic Division while sweeping the season series with the Sabres by winning 4-0 in front of a predominantly pro-Leafs crowd at KeyBank Center.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 28 saves in Buffalo’s fourth shutout loss of the season, and second on home ice.
“He gave us a great effort,” Ruff said. “It looked like he was dialed in and played really well.” Describing the goaltender’s recent stretch of play as “just a little bit more under control,” Ruff said “I think he’s trusting his reads just a little bit more.”
The Sabres generated more scoring chances early on and trailed 1-0 for much of the game before the Leafs scored three times in the final five minutes.
The Sabres have lost four in a row following a five-game win streak, and enter Thursday night’s home finale with a 35-39-7 record, one point in front of the Philadelphia Flyers for 15th place in the Eastern Conference.
And it will be the final opportunity this season for Ruff to become the fifth NHL coach to win 900 games.
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Jonah Bronstein joined the WIVB squad in 2022 as a digital sports reporter. The Buffalonian has covered the Bills, Sabres, Bandits, Bisons, colleges, high schools and other notable sporting events in Western New York since 2005, for publications including The Associated Press, The Buffalo News, and Niagara Gazette. Read more of his work here.