Toronto, Ontario (WGR Sports Radio 550) – With a chance to sweep a weekend “home and home” series over the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Buffalo Sabres stumbled late at Scotiabank Arena. Leading with less than seven-minutes to play, the Sabres coughed up the game-tying and, later on, overtime-winning goal in a 4-3 defeat on Saturday night.
Leafs win it in OT. pic.twitter.com/2c91dPsInQ
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) October 25, 2025
The Sabres came out like gangbusters in the opening period of play; finally getting rewarded 13:40 into the affair. Tage Thompson labeled the game’s first goal, short-side, up and over the shoulder of goalie Cayden Primeau.
WHAT A SHOT. 🎯#LetsGoBuffalo | #sabrehood pic.twitter.com/r8jKegBYEA
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) October 25, 2025
Toronto tied things up just before intermission, however. Forward Nicholas Robertson got lost in coverage out in front, and deposited a centering pass from linemate Easton Cowan in behind Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to make it 1-1.
In the second, Toronto grabbed its first lead of the night. Forward Matias Maccelli tipped a puck past Luukkonen for a 2-1 Maple Leafs advantage just 1:59 into the frame.
The Sabres answered back about 12-and-a-half minutes later, with a seeing-eye shot from the point. Bowen Byram let a wrist-shot loose from distance, and it eluded all traffic in front before nestling into the twine to tie things up between the Atlantic Division foes.
Traffic in front and Bo ties things up! 🚨#LetsGoBuffalo | #sabrehood pic.twitter.com/uvXlt69D0H
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) October 25, 2025
Still tied seven-minutes into the third period of play, Thompson vaulted the Sabres ahead once again. On a man advantage, he corralled a rebound, spun himself around, and wired his 50th-career powerplay goal to make it 3-2 Buffalo.
TOMMER ON THE POWER PLAY! 🚨#LetsGoBuffalo | #sabrehood pic.twitter.com/kC2HXW40SW
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) October 25, 2025
Toronto didn’t go quietly, and tied the game one more time in the late stages. Forward Dakota Joshua threw a shot on net from the left-circle, which eluded the glove of Luukkonen.
Joshua’s goal knotted things up three goals apiece; a score which would hold through 60-minutes as the teams prepared for overtime.
The Sabres owned possession, and chances, during the extra frame, but a bungled odd-man opportunity ended up going the other way. Thompson was unable to keep stride with John Tavares, and the veteran forward beat Luukkonen for the game-winning goal, 4-3.
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SCORING SUMMARY:
First Period:
BUF: 13:40 – Tage Thompson (3) (Jiri Kulich, Mattias Samuelsson)
TOR: 18:33 – Nicholas Robertson (1) PPG (Easton Cowan, Auston Matthews)
Second Period:
BUF: 14:23 – Bowen Byram (1) (Conor Timmins, Ryan McLeod)
TOR: 1:59 – Matias Maccelli (2) (John Tavares, Matthew Knies)
Third Period:
BUF: 7:06 – Tage Thompson (4) PPG (Rasmus Dahlin, Zach Benson)
TOR: 13:10 – Dakota Joshua (2) (Jake McCabe, Brandon Carlo)
Overtime:
BUF: NONE
TOR: 1:28 – John Tavares (5) OT-GWG (Matthew Knies)
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Blue Star Home Services Three Stars of the Game:
1. John Tavares – TOR
2. Tage Thompson – BUF
3. Jake McCabe – TOR
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What’s Next:
The blue and gold host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night, October 28. Puck drop at KeyBank Center is set for 6:45 p.m. EST with Dan Dunleavy and Rob Ray on the call.