TORONTO – A two-goal third period lead melted away as the Maple Leafs dropped their sixth straight game, a 4-3 shootout defeat to the Buffalo Sabres at Air Canada Centre on Monday night.
Jack Eichel and Evander Kane scored less than four minutes apart in the final frame to bring the Sabres back from a 3-1 deficit, and Sam Reinhart had the shootout winner. It was the 22nd loss in the past 27 games for the league-worst Leafs (21-33-11) and fifth straight one-goal defeat.
For Buffalo (27-31-9), the victory snapped a string of six straight shootout losses.
Rookie Zach Hyman scored his first career NHL goal for Toronto, and Leo Komarov and Brad Boyes also found the back of the net.
Mark Pysyk had the other Buffalo goal, while Chad Johnson stopped 30 of 33 shots.
Garret Sparks made 24 saves for the Leafs, who remain last in the NHL with 53 points.