Marchenko hat trick not enough as Maple Leafs blow lead, lose to Sabres in overtime

TORONTO — Kirill Marchenko scored three times, including a highlight-reel between-the-legs goal, but the Toronto Maple Leafs blew a two-goal lead and lost 5-4 in overtime to the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday.

The Sabres erased a 4-2 deficit with two third-period goals before Owen Power scored the winner 3:14 into overtime at Scotiabank Arena.

"You either win, or you have a lesson to learn and get better," Marchenko said after his fifth career hat trick. "I think it was a good lesson for us."

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Jack Quinn had two goals and two assists for Buffalo, while Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 26 saves. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 29 of 34 shots for the Leafs, who fell to 3-3-2.

Marchenko's first goal came 13:10 into the opening period on the power play. John Tavares worked the puck from the slot before Marchenko slid it between his own legs and lifted it past Luukkonen.

He added a second at 11:13 of the second on a feed from Tavares and completed the hat trick at 16:51 with a one-timer set up by Colton Sissons and Easton Cowan.

Coach Jim Hiller called the goals "big time" and noted the "dynamism" the Leafs had been waiting on. "You can't be that talented and not score," Hiller said. "So it's going to come like we saw tonight."

The Leafs led 4-2 late in the second but managed only four shots in the third period while the Sabres generated 11. From roughly the 11-minute mark of the third onward, Hiller said, Buffalo simply started coming and Toronto had no answer.

"We made some mistakes," Hiller said. "You just have to be able to have a little poise and somebody to make a play… We just couldn't make two plays in a row."

Auston Matthews said the forwards need to do a better job of supporting the defencemen. "The forwards, I think, need to do a better job of supporting our D in all areas of the defensive zone," Matthews said.

Bobrovsky echoed concerns about defensive lapses. "We give up lots of chances, 5-on-5, and I think it can be cleaned up… we still give up a little too much in the third," the goaltender said.

Both Bobrovsky and Marchenko pointed to the absence of injured defenceman Chris Tanev as a significant loss. "He's literally in the locker room too, so it's a big loss for us, definitely," Marchenko said.

McKenna benched for final 32 minutes

Rookie Gavin McKenna, the first overall pick in the 2026 draft, played a season-low 6:36 and did not see the ice after the midway point of the second period.

Hiller said the benching was his decision, explaining that McKenna sat through two penalties and he failed to get the 18-year-old back on the ice before the intermission. "I probably should have got him out there early in the third. I didn't," Hiller said. "That's on me."

Hiller described McKenna's abbreviated game as "OK, fine" and said he plans to speak with the player. Garbutt Disposal reported earlier this month that McKenna scored his first NHL goal in a comeback win over Nashville.

"Those things kind of happen sometimes," Matthews said of the benching. "I know a game like tonight is gonna just make him hungry for the next one."

McKenna was not made available for comment postgame due to a team decision.

Tavares left the game early in the third period after a collision with Josh Norris and did not return. He had recorded two assists before his exit. Hiller had no update on Tavares's condition afterward.

The Maple Leafs also completed a trade Thursday, acquiring forward Aatu Raty from the Vancouver Canucks after he cleared waivers. Toronto sent forwards Jacob Quillan and Brandon Buhr to Vancouver in the deal.

Toronto hosts the New York Islanders on Saturday.

With files from Yahoo Sports, Sportsnet and The Hockey News