The Toronto Maple Leafs appeared headed toward a comfortable win after building a three-goal advantage inside maybe their most impressive first 40 minutes to date under new head coach Sheldon Keefe, but in the end wound up having to gut out a 5-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres after another disorganized effort when protecting a lead.
While it wasn’t the statement win it had the potential to be, it remains a crucial victory nonetheless. With it, the Leafs moved back into a postseason position and elevated to within a point of their divisional and territorial rival from just across the border.