Jeff Skinner (3 points), Sabres erupt in 9-3 rout of Leafs

Field Level Media|published: Thu 21st December, 21:47 2023

Dec 21, 2023; Buffalo, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres right wing Kyle Okposo (21) celebrates his shorthanded goal with defenseman Connor Clifton (75) during the second period against the Toronto Maple Leafs at KeyBank Center. credits: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

Jeff Skinner scored two goals and Jordan Greenway also tallied to highlight their respective returns to the lineup, lifting the host Buffalo Sabres to a 9-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday.

Skinner, who also had an assist, missed his team's last three games while Greenway had been out nine games due to upper-body injuries.

Captain Kyle Okposo scored twice, Tage Thompson collected a goal and two assists and Jack Quinn and defensemen Owen Power and Rasmus Dahlin also tallied. Alex Tuch notched a career-high four assists and rookie Devon Levi made 25 saves for the Sabres, who rebounded from yielding nine goals in their last game to set a season high in goals scored.

Toronto's Auston Matthews scored his NHL-leading 26th goal of the season and 12th in his last eight games. Max Domi converted on the power play and Calle Jarnkrok added a short-handed tally for the Maple Leafs, who have lost two straight and four of their last six (2-2-2).

Ilya Samsonov yielded five goals on 19 shots before being relieved by Martin Jones (12 saves) for Toronto.

The teams split the game's first four goals before Skinner chipped a sharp-angle shot past Samsonov with 4:09 remaining in the first period.

Dahlin scored from the slot and Jarnkrok buried a feed from William Nylander 58 seconds later before Thompson tallied to give Buffalo a 5-3 lead at 8:22 of the second period. Thompson's shot from the left circle squirted past Samsonov to spell the end of the evening for the goaltender.

Okposo greeted Jones by beating him on a breakaway for a short-handed goal with 8:56 remaining in the second period.

Quinn scored his first goal since coming back from an Achilles injury at 11:08 of the third period. Skinner added his team-leading 14th of the season just 75 seconds later to send the Sabres on their way.

Greenway's wrist shot from beyond the left circle eluded Samsonov to open the scoring at 2:27 of the first period. Matthews answered just over five minutes later after his turnaround shot from sharp angle near the right-wing boards sailed between the pads of Levi.

—Field Level Media