It was all Buffalo in the third.
The Toronto bullpen surrenders another last inning lead.
Where's BJ Ryan when you need him?
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Antropov drives Spacek's head off the glass and get s a stupid boarding penalty. Why not five and a game? Spacek was helped from the ice to the locker room and never returned for OT.
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Everything was going well for Raycroft tonight until he made his 26th save. Buffalo have scored four goals on their last six shots.
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Jochen's been a busy man tonight--new deal and he's been all over the ice with a goal and an assist. Leading by example, beats Raycroft to tie it up.
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4-3 Leafs. Brain Campbell plays weak stick D and it ends up on Chad Kilger's stick. His second of the night from Tucker.
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3-3. Vanek from Stafford and Roy.
Kilger scores from in close on TiBo. Ironically, Hal Gill in the Toronto end of the rink was mugging Adam Mair as the puck went in the Buffalo goal. 3-2 Leafs.
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Pommer from Connolly and Hecht @ 8:49.
Adam Mair's on a tear, 22 scores his second goal in his last two games from Roy and Paille.
Shades of Saturday night. Buffalo gets goals on their 27th and 28th shots, ala their efforst against Brent Johnson and The Caps.
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Looking around the 300 level, it looks like several people have come to the game tonight dressed in costumes. There are a couple of guys dressed as empty seats-- are rare sight in Buffalo in the post Lokout era.
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35 looks fine to start the third period.
Raycroft has made 22 saves on Buffalo thus far. Brent Johnson made his first 31 on Saturday night, then, the walls came down. Can Buffalo repeat that phenomena tonight?
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The Leafs had a two goal lead in the third period vs. Pittsburgh on Saturday night. Defensive zone breakdowns led to the Pens comeback in that game.
Can the Leafs make their two goal lead hold up tonight?
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Shots on goal after 40 minutes:
BUF 19
TOR 18
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TiBo appears to have injured his lower back or hammy. He was on all fours attempting to make a save, when he abruptly rolled over on his back with 15 seconds left. Ryan Miller took his hat off and put his helmet on, as if to signal TiBo's exit from the game. During the ensuing timeout, TiBo hopped to his feet and skated in the right face off circle. Obvious pain and discomfort was written all over his face.
Don't be surprised if Miller takes the cage in the third period.
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Roy gets two for embellishing --- terrible call. Roy did not get called for a dive, he was penalized for what he said to Dennis LaRue on his way back up to his feet after Antropov interfered with him and knocked him to the ice as he was attempting to shoot.
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As the period progresses, Buffalo are using their speed to crack through the sand bags in the neutral zone. Dump, Chase, Persue.
Hecht just clanked a puck off Raycroft's post. The second Sabres post of the period.
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SabreTooth just shot his Tshirt cannon over the glas and on to the ice to the right of TiBo's crease.
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Toronto are doing a good job of slowing down the Sabres and disrupting their flow. The Leafs forwards are winning loose pucks and play solid stick on stick D.
Can you say 1-2-2? We have a Neutral Zone Trap sighting!******* Mo's squad was smoke in the thrid by Sid and Geno on Saturday night. He's not content to watch Buffalo play NASCAR hockey tonight. Its Restrictor Plate Racing at its finest!
Goose and Stajan sit for two. The diving call on Goose is ridiculous. Stajan clearly interfered with him.
Sundin hooks Hecht. Sabres PP
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Nik Antropov scores 2-0.
The play is under review. Good goal.
Pohl found the loose puck that was sitting precariously in TiBo's crease. Flip shot over the sprawling goalie
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Gamache trips Vanek. Sabres had no sustained pressure aqnd Leafs were able to kill it off.
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Leafs outshot Sabres 10-9 in the first period.
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Dan Paille interfered with raycroft at 19:45 and the Leafs will begin the second period on the PP.
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Kubina takes a dumb stick foul on Brian Campbell who was sneaking in from his left point.
29-9-26-61-45 second unit. Roy and Max give and go on the half wall and get a great scoring chance on Raycroft.
Simon Gamache from John Pohl and Matt Stajan. Nathan Paetsch made a stellar play to block a cross ice pass, However, Kalinin failed to tie up his man down low and that left Gamache open for the one timer.
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Sabres PP entries were hurried andn sloppy. Antropov had nice shorthanded scoring attempt on Thibault. Sabres PP 0 for 1. They came in to the game 5 fo rtheir last 14. Now 5 for last 15.
IAN WHITE TWO MINUTES FOR HOOKING AT 12:11
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Early on, The Leafs D look slow and plodding. News flash, eh? McCabe and Wozniewski have been beaten by faster Buffalo forwards a couple times each so far. Were it not for forwards like Sundin applying back check pressure, Buffalo would have three uncontested breakways on Raycroft. Credit the quick thinking of Mats and Blake for their efforts to cover the D gaffes.
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Stafford-Gaustad-Kotalik apply effective early pressure and Raycroft makes key save in close.
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Hecht-Connolly-Pominville storm of out the gate quickly. Raycroft was forced to make three huge saves on the first shot of the game.
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For The Leafs, Ponikarovsky and Deveraux.
Mike Ryan sits for Andrew Peters.
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