Tavares scores natural hat trick, Maple Leafs rally past Sabres

John Tavares had his 14th NHL hat trick, and the Toronto Maple Leafs recovered to hand the Buffalo Sabres their 10th straight loss, 5-3 at Scotiabank Arena on Sunday.

“(Dennis) Hildeby was strong and I loved the way (Max) Domi’s line, him, (Nicholas) Robertson and Bobby (McMann) just skating really well, good pace and got a big goal for us to get us back in it, so really good to see them be such a factor for us all night,” Tavares said. “They’re real important players for us, so excited to see them get on the board and play the way they did.”

Domi and Robertson each had a goal and an assist, and McMann had two assists for the Maple Leafs (19-10-2), who are 6-3-0 in their past nine.

“They played excellent (Domi and Robertson),” Toronto coach Craig Berube said. “I thought they were way more engaged with their physical play and hounding and puck battles. They did a real good job, that line was excellent for us tonight and we needed them to be.”

Hildeby made 24 saves in his third NHL start, and first since a 6-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Oct. 23.

Jack Quinn scored twice, and Devon Levi made 36 saves for the Sabres (11-16-4), who are 0-7-3 during a 10-game losing streak.

“I’m almost lost for words, obviously,” Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff said. “It’s on me to solve this. This is the toughest solve I’ve been around, but it’s on me to get these guys in the right place to win a hockey game. And nobody else, just me.”

The Maple Leafs took the lead in the second period, scoring three times in 2:31. Robertson began the rally at 11:20 when he one-timed a pass from McMann at the bottom of the right faceoff circle to cut it to 3-2.

Tavares tied it 3-3 at 12:41 when Auston Matthews’ shot deflected off his leg in the slot on the power play.

Tavares scored again 1:10 later to put Toronto up 4-3 when he took a pass from Chris Tanev and shot high to the blocker side from the slot.

Tavares competed the natural hat trick when he shot into an empty net for his 15th goal of the season at 17:48 for the 5-3 final.

“I’m just playing,” Tavares said. “I think I’ve got a lot of belief in my game and what I can do, whether that is scoring or just making an impact all over the ice. So just continue to help this team as best I can. My whole life I’ve been able to produce offensively, score goals, and just want to continue to do that when those chances present themselves.”

The Sabres went up 1-0 at 1:05 of the first period when Quinn, who had been a healthy scratch the past five games, shot high to the blocker side from the left face-off dot on the power play. The goal was the second of the season for Quinn, and his first against a goalie.

His only other goal was into an empty net on Oct. 26 in a 5-3 win against the Detroit Red Wings.

“I felt good,” Quinn said. “Lot of confidence after that first one went in. Feel like my game is on another level when I see one go in. Just nice to see one go in, take some pressure off and just play freely.

“It sucks not playing, but just used it as a chance to kind of find my legs and get a little pop coming back.”

Alex Tuch made it 2-0 at 2:46 when he took a pass from Zach Benson and sent a wrist shot by Levi’s glove from the slot.

Domi cut it to 2-1 at 15:45 with his first goal of the season in his 23rd game.

Robertson, who had been a healthy scratch the past four games, backhanded a pass into the slot to Domi who put it in from below the left hashmarks. The goal ended Domi’s personal 16-game point drought. Robertson’s assist was his first of the season in his 24th game.

“A win’s a win, massive win,” Domi said. “Obviously coming from behind, it’s not easy against a team like that. You’ve got to give them credit, they came out flying so it felt good to get back into it.”

Quinn made it 3-1 at 9:11 of the second period when he came off the bench, took a pass from JJ Peterka, and shot it into the top left corner.

“Effort wasn’t good enough, our details weren’t good enough,” Tuch said. “Let off the gas.

“(Early in the game) we were getting pucks on the net. We were hard on their defense, all five guys were pressuring and forcing turnovers, and we were moving the puck up quick. Forwards were getting open for D, and D were moving it up for the forwards. Four guys on the attack, then it didn’t happen.”

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