BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Surrendering a two-goal lead midway through Saturday's 5-3 loss in Toronto, the Sabres extended their winless streak to 10 games, the longest in the NHL this season.
"I'm almost lost for words obviously," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. "It's on me to solve this. This is the toughest solve I've been around. It is on me to get these guys in the right place to win a hockey game. And nobody else, just me."
Goaltender Devon Levi was called up from Rochester and stopped 36 of 40 shots in his first start for Buffalo in a month. Jack Quinn had two goals in his return to the lineup after being a healthy scratch for five games. Alex Tuch also scored, and JJ Peterka tallied two assists.
John Tavares scored twice in a span of 1:10 to put the Maple Leafs ahead in the second period, and added an empty-net goal for a natural hat trick. Nicholas Robertson started Toronto's rally with 8:40 remaining in the second, and Max Domi had a goal in the first period. Dennis Hildeby made 24 saves in his third NHL start.
Quinn, who came into Saturday with one empty-net goal in 24 games, broke Buffalo's drought of 11 power plays without scoring at 1:03 into the first period, and Tuch gave the Sabres a 2-0 lead with his ninth just 1:43 later. Quinn added his first even-strength goal to give the Sabres a 3-1 lead at 9:11 into the second.
Buffalo's 0-7-3 record over the past three weeks marks the seventh 10-game winless streak in franchise history. This is the third time the Sabres have gone 10 games without a victory during their postseason drought that is now going on 14 seasons. The Sabres set an NHL record with an 18-game winless streak in 2020-21, and had a 14-game winless run during the 2014-15 season.
The Sabres' skid surpasses the nine-game winless stretch to start the season by the San Jose Sharks, the last team the Sabres have beaten on Nov. 23.
Buffalo closes its road trip Tuesday night in Montreal before hosting the Maple Leafs on Friday.
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Jonah Bronstein joined the WIVB squad in 2022 as a digital sports reporter. The Buffalonian has covered the Bills, Sabres, Bandits, Bisons, colleges, high schools and other notable sporting events in Western New York since 2005, for publications including The Associated Press, The Buffalo News, and Niagara Gazette. Read more of his work here.
