John Tavares scored a natural hat trick with three straight goals — two of them 1:10 apart in the second period — and the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the visiting Buffalo Sabres 5-3 on Sunday night.
It was the 14th career hat trick for Tavares.
Max Domi and Nicholas Robertson each had a goal and assist for the Maple Leafs, who have won three of their last four games. Bobby McMann added two assists.
Toronto goaltender Dennis Hildeby made his third career NHL start and stopped 24 shots.
Jack Quinn had two goals and Alex Tuch scored once for the Sabres, who have dropped the first two of a three-game road trip and are winless in their last 10 overall (0-7-3). JJ Peterka added two assists.
Buffalo goaltender Devon Levi was recalled from Rochester of the AHL for the start and made 36 saves.
Both teams were coming off 4-2 road losses on Saturday.
Buffalo led 2-1 after the first period.
Quinn scored during a power play with a wrist shot from the left circle at 1:03. Christopher Tanev was off for interference.
Tuch scored his ninth of the season at 2:46 on a 39-foot wrist shot from a pass by Zach Benson.
Domi scored his first goal of the season at 15:45 on a 12-footer from the slot after Robertson put the puck in front on a no-look pass from behind the goal line. Jordan Greenway’s turnover started the sequence.
Quinn scored his third of the season at 9:11 of the second period on a shot from the right circle after Peterka made a long rush into the Toronto zone, whirled and passed.
Toronto then scored three times in a span of 2:31 to take a 4-3 lead.
Robertson scored his third of the season at 11:20 of the second on a 19-foot wrist shot.
Tavares tied the game during a power play, deflecting a shot by Auston Matthews at 12:41. Henri Jokiharju was off for slashing. Tavares scored again on a 32-footer from the slot at 13:51.
Toronto had the first 13 shots on goal in the third period to keep Buffalo hemmed in.
Tavares’ 15th of the season came when he scored into an empty net at 17:48 of the third.
Toronto put goaltender Anthony Stolarz (lower-body injury) on injured reserve, retroactive to Dec. 12.
–Field Level Media