Mike Harrington
TORONTO - Just call it another did-that-happen kind of loss for the Buffalo Sabres.
John Tavares' hat trick included the final two goals of a quick burst as the Toronto Maple Leafs erupted for three in a 2 1/2-minute span of the second period and beat Buffalo 5-3 on Sunday in Scotiabank Arena.
The Sabres had leads of 2-0 and 3-1 in this game, and it didn't matter. Their winless streak hit 10 games (0-7-3), and this was the third defeat they've suffered in that run where they led a game by multiple goals. They've scored first in six of the last seven games - and lost them all.
The Sabres play Tuesday in Montreal, and any loss in that game - be it regulation, overtime or shootout - will drop Buffalo into last place in the Eastern Conference.
Devon Levi got the call from Rochester to play goal for the Sabres in the second half of a back-to-back and did a solid job, stopping 36 shots. But the Sabres couldn't get him enough offense to beat Toronto rookie Dennis Hildeby, who was playing in just his third NHL game.
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Buffalo got two goals from forward Jack Quinn - making his first appearance after being a healthy scratch for five straight games - and another from Alex Tuch, but it wasn't enough.
Quinn scored a power play goal at 1:05 of the first period, and Alex Tuch made it 2-0 with a quick snapshot at 2:46. Max Domi got one goal back with his first of the season for the Leafs at 15:45, but Quinn made it 3-1 at 9:11 of the second.
Then came Buffalo's collapse.
Nick Robertson took a Bobby McMann feed and beat Levi with a one-timer at 11:20. Henri Joikharju took a slashing penalty at 11:48 and Tavares got credit for a power play goal at 12:41 when a sizzling slapshot by Auston Matthews deflected home off his leg. Taveres got the go-ahead goal at 13:51, beating Levi after a Chris Tanev feed.
Tavares hit the empty net with 2:12 left in a third period that saw the Sabres offer little resistance in the first 10 minutes. The Leafs had the first 12 shots on goal. The final count in the period was 18-6.
In addition to starting Levi over James Reimer, the Sabres loaned defenseman Ryan Johnson to Rochester to make room for Levi on the roster. Henri Jokiharju came back in the lineup on defense and paired with Bowen Byram.
Connor Clifton and Nicolas Aube-Kubel were healthy scratches.
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