Defenseman Mattias Samuelsson scored twice and the Buffalo Sabres snapped a five-game skid against the rival Toronto Maple Leafs with a 5-3 victory Friday night

Blueliner will play his first regular-season game for the Sabres after being acquired in a trade from Utah last June.

Buffalo Sabres star Tage Thompson delivered a message to his team and fanbase as they work through an early resurgence.

John Tavares scored his 499th NHL goal on a breakaway at 1:28 of overtime and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Buffalo Sabres 4-3 on Saturday night to end a three-game losing streak

Gibson had made 17 saves when the Sabres broke thorugh at 11:37 of the seocnd period on an odd-man rush, which ended with Jason Zucker flicking the puck into Detroit's net. Tyson Kozak made it 2-1 at 16:28 when he outmuscled Axel Sandin Pellikka in the slot. That was the Sabres' 25 shot on net; the Wings had 14.

John Tavares scored his 499th NHL goal on a breakaway at 1:28 of overtime and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Buffalo Sabres 4-3 on Saturday night to end a three-game losing

The Sabres fell to the Maple Leafs 4-3 in overtime, but the ingredients of their strong recent play remained intact. They held their opponent to 22 shots with tight, persistent checking. Both special teams units continued to excel. Physicality was met with timely responses.

The Detroit Red Wings didn't play nearly well enough against the Buffalo Sabres in the first leg of their first multi-game trip.

The Toronto Maple Leafs make the short trip across the border as they visit the Buffalo Sabres in an Atlantic Division clash Friday.