Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - John-Michael Liles and Joey Crabb registered a goal and an assist apiece, and the Toronto Maple Leafs hung on for a 4-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres.
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The loss combined with a 3-2 shootout win by Washington drops the Sabres two points behind the Capitals for the 8th and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Both teams have three games remaining in the regular season, but Washington holds the tiebreaker over Buffalo, meaning the Sabres need to pass them in points.
The Sabres were playing without injured defenseman Tyler Myers, Mike Weber and Christian Ehrhoff. Toronto took the lead in the first period after a turnover by Andrej Sekera lead to a short-handed breakaway goal by Crabb.
"I thought the killer was we let them in the game right off the bat, the play by Sekera was the killer," said Ruff. "The first play our goaltender has to face is a breakaway and we're shorthanded as it is and you make big mistakes like that and it's tough to rebound."
Phil Kessel and Matt Frattin also lit the lamp for the Leafs, who snapped a three-game losing streak.
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Ben Scrivens made 29 saves in the win.
Tyler Ennis, Ville Leino and Drew Stafford scored for Buffalo, which has lost two straight on the heels of a nine-game point streak.
Ryan Miller allowed four goals on 29 shots in defeat. "We just put ourselves in a little bit tougher spot," said Miller.
Buffalo will play the Leafs again on Tuesday night in their home finale.
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