Jiri Kulich and Tage Thompson each had a goal and an assist, and Alex Lyon made 31 saves for the Sabres (4-4-0), who have won four of their past five games after losing their first three games of the season.
“It’s a two-way street, right? Can’t get too down on ourselves when we’re 0-3, and we’re on a bit of a heater right now, can’t get too high and forget what made you successful,” Thompson said. “I think for us the message is staying even-keeled. Continue to do things that are a recipe for winning hockey. … Now we’re feeling it a little bit so we’ve just got to ride that wave.”
William Nylander, Auston Matthews and Dakota Joshua scored for the Maple Leafs (3-4-1), who have lost three straight (0-2-1). Anthony Stolarz made 25 saves.
“I think when you work and compete, like we did for most of this game tonight, good things are going to happen. You’re going to get out of these little skids and you’re going to win hockey games,” Matthews said. “So, you clean up the little mistakes that cost you and cost you pucks in the back of your net and play the way and compete the way that we did tonight, I think we’ll be happy with the result most of the time.”
Nylander left the game late in the third period with an undisclosed injury. Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube did not have an update and was uncertain on Nylander’s potential availability for the second game of the home-and-home set in Toronto on Saturday.
“Maybe (he could play), yeah. We’ll see,” he said. “Got to see him. I got to see tomorrow.”
Samuelsson gave Buffalo a 1-0 lead at 4:38 of the first period. Ryan McLeod spotted him coming toward the slot, and Samuelsson buried a shot blocker side.
“I think I had a good summer. … I’m just playing with a little more confidence,” Samuelsson said. “When you don’t have confidence and you’re out there every other night, it can be tough sometimes to kind of find it on the fly. And if you’re playing with just a little bit of swagger and confidence in yourself, it can go a long way.”