Sabres overcome Matthews’ 3rd hat trick of the season to beat Maple Leafs 6-4

TORONTO — Alex Tuch scored twice and the Buffalo Sabres overcame Toronto star Auston Matthews’ third hat trick of the season to beat the Maple Leafs 6-4 on Saturday night.

JJ Peterka had a goal and an assist, Tage Thompson, Jeff Skinner and Jordan Greenway also scored and Devon Levi made 25 saves to help Buffalo improve to 6-6-0. Toronto has dropped four straight (0-2-2) to fall to 5-4-2.

Mitch Marner had a goal and three assists for Toronto, while William Nylander extended his franchise-record points streak to open a season to 11 games with an assist. Joseph Woll made 34 stops.

Tuch gave Buffalo a 5-4 lead with 7:12 left when Rasmus Dalhin’s point shot hit the big winger and caromed past Woll.

Tuch added an exclamation point with 1:06 to go when he buried his third into an empty net after fighting off Nylander and John Klingberg.

Matthews has an NHL-high 11 goals this season.

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Toronto Maple Leafs center Calle Jarnkrok (19) and right wing Mitchell Marner celebrate Marner’s goal against the Buffalo Sabres during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, in Toronto. Credit: AP/Christopher Katsarov

Sabres: At Carolina on Tuesday night.

Maple Leafs: Host Tampa Bay on Monday night.