The Buffalo Sabres scored five goals against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Tim Hortons Heritage Classic in Hamilton.
CC: Observer Today
HAMILTON, Ontario, (3/14/2022) - The Buffalo Sabres traveled to Tim Horton's Field in Hamilton, Ontario to face the Toronto Maple Leafs for the sixth Tim Hortons Heritage Classic.
The first period ended with a 0-0 score, despite both teams recording 14 and seven shots respectively. In the second, the Maple Leafs struck first with a goal by right-winger Ondrej Kase. The Sabres bounced back with a goal from center Peyton Krebs, but then Toronto center Auston Matthews countered with a goal of his own.
Sabres left wing Vinnie Hinostroza tied the game with nine minutes left in the period. He then scored Buffalo's first lead of the game with a tight shot that passed Toronto goaltender Petr Mrazek in the third period.
Hinostroza also recorded an assist when he passed the puck to Krebs for his second goal of the game. Krebs scored after Mrazek dislocated the net on a strange play that stood after review.
In a post game conference, Krebs said he felt proud of his teammate's work ethic and how it rewarded him with a three-point performance.
“Vinnie’s an awesome guy,” Krebs said. “Every night he, brings it. It’s nice to see him get rewarded for that today, for sure. Good patience there, good play. All I had to do was hit the net. He was great for us tonight. It’s exciting.”
With 2:25 left in the third period, center Tage Thompson scored on a short-handed empty netter to seal the Sabres 5-2 win.
Hinostroza finished the game with two goals and an assist, while goaltender Craig Anderson saved 34 shots out of 36.
Ahead of the game, the Sabres had an 0-2 record for outdoor games. They lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first NHL Winter Classic in 2008 and then again ten years later, to the New York Rangers.
Anderson also had a 2-0 record for outdoor games, winning in 2014 and 2017 with the Ottawa Senators. He recorded his 300th career win against the Vegas Golden Knights, becoming the sixth American goaltender to do so. The win in Hamilton improved his record for outdoor games to 3-0.