Mike Harrington: A total mismatch of a first period took all the vigor out of Sabres-Leafs rivalry renewal By Mike Harrington News Sports Reporter Feb 21, 2023 Feb 21, 2023 Updated Feb 17, 2026 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save After "O, Canada" was sung at full-throated volume, it took just 16 seconds of play for the first "Go Leafs, go" chant to roll through KeyBank Center.kAmxE E@@< b >:?FE6D[ d` D64@?5D 7@C E96 7:CDE #J2? ~V#6:==J 8@2= E@ 9:E E96 ?6E] p?5 ciaf 7@C E96 D64@?5] xE H2D b\_ 2E fi`c H96? s@? vC2?2E@ 42==65 2 E:>6@FE 2?5 c\_ 2E `ai_h H96? vC2?2E@ 82G6 &<<@\!6<<2 {FF<<@?6? 2 >6C4:7F= 2?5 H6==\56D6CG65 9@@<] k^AmkAm(92E :? E96 H@C=5 H2D E92E 5:DA=2J %F6D52J ?:89En k^AmkAmxE H2D @?6 E62> J@F 42? E6== :D 36?E @? D?2AA:?8 :ED 7:CDE\C@F?5 >2=2:D6 @? E96 C@25 E@ 2 $E2?=6J rFA] p?5 2?@E96C E92E 92D 925 =@ED @7 8@@5 >@>6?ED E9:D J62C 4@>:?8 FA H@67F==J D>2== :? 2 3:8 DA@E=:89E]k^Am People are also reading… New attorney is representing Wolfe as case moves forward Top Smyth DAR essay wins state competition Work on Exit 39 truck stop expected to move more quickly now Royal Oak DAR names 3 high school seniors as Good Citizens Marion council members debate apolitical status with redistricting, 2A requests Along the Yellow Brick Road Roanoke County family files lawsuit against VHSL, school board over homeschool sports rule Smyth supervisor seeks more communication from Thomas Bridge Water system Chilhowie man faces multiple charges in domestic violence incident Atkins Elementary celebrates new community-engaged playground Spanberger signs 22 bills, including one concerning pharmacy benefit managers Blacksburg elementary principal among 17 men arrested in prostitution case Judge orders Trump to halt White House ballroom construction unless Congress OKs it Data centers now on defensive after Virginia court ruling, budget fight Child dies in drowning in Virginia Beach Oceanfront hotel pool kAmp?5 282:? 2E 9@>6] ~C H2D :E C62==J 9@>6nk^AmkA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^f44f44a4\3aa3\``65\2gfh\e73_g565a_ghQm~3D6CG2E:@?Di p?@E96C 3CFE2= DEC6E49 @7 A=2J 5@@>D $23C6D :? =@DD E@ |2A=6 {627Dk^2mk^AmkAm%96 $23C6D D9@F=5 4@?D:56C E96>D6=G6D =F4<J 27E6C E96:C e\b =@DD E@ E96 %@C@?E@ |2A=6 {627Di $@ 76H @7 E96:C 72?D <6AE E96:C E:4<6ED 7@C E9:D @?6 E92E E96C6 H6C6 92C5=J 2?J 3@@D 27E6C E92E ?:89E>2C:D9 7:CDE A6C:@5]k^Am kAmyFDE A=2:? @55 E@ 962C E96 9@>6 E62> 9625 E@ E96 =@4<6C C@@> :? 2 c\_ 9@=6 27E6C a_ >:?FE6D 2?5 766= >@DE=J 4966CD 649@ 2C@F?5 E96 3F:=5:?8]k^Am kAm%96 $23C6DV 5676?D:G6 A=2J 2?5 8@2=E6?5:?8 92G6 4@==2AD65 D:?46 E96 42=6?52C 9:E u63CF2CJ E@ =6G6=D E92E 2C6 92C5 E@ 36=:6G6]k^AmkAm%9:D H2D E96 7@FCE9 E:>6 :? D:I 82>6D qF772=@ 92D 2==@H65 7:G6\A=FD 8@2=D :? 2 82>6] %96 $23C6D 925 5@?6 E92E @?46 :? E96:C AC6G:@FD ad 82>6D]k^AmkAmQw@?6DE=J[ :E =@@<65 C62==J 62DJ 7@C E96> @FE E96C6[Q D2:5 H:?86C p=6I %F49[ H9@ H2D @? E96 :46 7@C E96 7:CDE E9C66 %@C@?E@ 8@2=D] Q(6 2==@H65 :E E@ 36 62DJ 7@C E96>]Qk^Am kAm*@F 76=E 325 7@C {FF<<@?6? 3FE 96 D66>D E@ 92G6 DF556?=J 9:E 2 H2== E@@] x? u63CF2CJ[ 96VD CF??:?8 2 d]bf 8@2=D\282:?DE 2G6C286 2?5 ]gdd D2G6 A6C46?E286] %92E @7E6? AFED J@F :? C2?86 @7 86EE:?8 @FE E96 t\+!2DD 2?5 9625:?8 324< E@ #@496DE6C]k^Am kAmvC2?2E@[ 9@H6G6C[ H2D 567:2?E 23@FE 9:D 8@2=:6] w6 42>6 :?E@ 9:D A@DE82>6 ?6HD 4@?76C6?46 36?E @? >2<:?8 E96 A@:?E E9:D H2D?VE 23@FE {FF<<@?6?] p?5 96 H2D C:89E E@ 2 46CE2:? 568C66] qFE @?6 E9:?8 E@ ?@E6i w6 925?VE 6G6? 366? 2D<65 23@FE E96 <:5 J6E]k^AmkAmQ*@F 42? =@@< 2E E96 82>6 2?5 D2J 7:G6 8@2=D :? ) 2>@F?E @7 82>6D 2?5 D2J[ V~9 >J v@5[ :D E96C6 D@>6E9:?8 8@:?8 @? 96C6nQ vC2?2E@ D2:5] Q(6==[ =@@< 2E E9:D 82>6] (6 <?@H H6 42? 36 36EE6C] (6 <?@H H6 H:== 36 36EE6C] (6V== >@G6 @?] x 5@?VE E9:?< :EVD 2 AC@3=6> E92EVD 8@:?8 E@ =:?86C :D >J 766=:?8] x E9:?< E9:?8D H:== 36 4=62?65 FA]Qk^Am kAm(6V== D66] %96 4@==64E:G6 5676?D:G6 677@CE <66AD 72==:?8 D9@CE 2?5 76== D9@CE 72C E@@ @7E6? 2?5 {FF<<@?6? 92D?VE 4@>6 4=@D6 E@ 32:=:?8 @FE 9:D E62>>2E6D :? E9C66 DEC2:89E 9@>6 3=@H@FED]k^Am kAmpE =62DE EH@ @7 E96 7:CDE\A6C:@5 8@2=D 92G6 E@ 36 DE@AA65 2?5 >2J36 E9C66] %96 7@FCE9 @?6[ 2 D9@CE\D:56 3FC?6C 3J |:4926= qF?E:?8[ D:>A=J 42?VE 8@ :?] %92E D2:5[ J@F 42?VE ;FDE A:=6 @? A@@C &!{ 6:E96C] w6 H2D 2D D96==D9@4<65 2D E96 C6DE @7 9:D E62>]k^AmkAms:5 E96 $23C6D 6G6? 92G6 E96 AF4< :? E96 7:CDE `_ >:?FE6D @7 E9:D 82>6n xE D66>65 =:<6 E96J H6C6 H2E49:?8 E96 {627D 8@ 7@C 2 >@C?:?8 DA:? 2E w2C3@C46?E6C]k^Am kAmxEVD E96 F=E:>2E6 :?DF=E E@ 2 9@4<6J E62> E@ 42== E96> D@7E 2?5 J@F 92G6?VE 366? 23=6 E@ D2J E92E 23@FE E96 $23C6D >F49 F?56C vC2?2E@] qFE E96J H6C6 DBF:D9:6C E92? >6=E:?8 :46 4C62> :? E96 7:CDE a_ >:?FE6D @7 E9:D @?6]k^Am kAmpE =62DE vC2?2E@ 5:5?VE 8@ 9@>6 H:E9 9:D E:>6@FE =:<6 96 5:5 :? E96 =2DE 9@>6 82>6 282:?DE r2=82CJ]k^AmkAm%96C6 H2D ?@ A9JD:42=:EJ 2=@?8 E96 H2==] }@ 2EE24<:?8 E96 AF4< :? E96 5676?D:G6 K@?6] }@ @?6 E@F49:?8 E96 AF4< :? E96 @776?D:G6 6?5] %FC?@G6CD 2== @G6C E96 A=246] p?5 E96? ?@ D2G6D H96? :E >2EE6C65]k^Am kAm%96 $23C6D[ C6>6>36C[ 362E E96 {627D E9C66 E:>6D =2DE J62C :? E96 7:?2= ag 82>6D @7 E96 D62D@?] %96J 5@H?C:89E AF?<65 E96> @FE5@@CD :? w2>:=E@? 2E E96 w6C:E286 r=2DD:4]k^Am kAmqFE :? EH@ >66E:?8D E9:D D62D@?[ :EVD 366? F8=J] s@?VE =6E %F6D52JVD E9:C5\A6C:@5 H:?5@H 5C6DD:?8 7@@= J@F]k^Am kAmxEVD ;FDE ?@E >F49 @7 2 C:G2=CJ C:89E ?@H] %96 {627D 925 ?@E 366? :? E@H? :? >@C6 E92? `d >@?E9D 2?5 E96J 92G6 >F49 3:886C 7:D9 E@ C66= :?] {:<6 E96 %2>A2 q2J {:89E?:?8 2?5 q@DE@? qCF:?D] k^Am kAm%F49 8@E 9:D `__E9 42C66C 8@2= :? E96 $23C6DV E9C66\8@2= E9:C5] %9:D H2D 9:D 7:CDE 82>6 :? qF772=@ 282:?DE E96 {627D[ 2?5 96 D2:5 367@C6 E96 82>6 E92E 96 76=E qF772=@VD w6C:E286 r=2DD:4 H:? 492?865 E96 C:G2=CJ D@>6]k^AmkAm|2J36 :E 5:5i $66>D =:<6 :E 8@E E96 {627D 7:C65 FA E@ D66 E96 $23C6D 2?5 >2<6 E96:C @H? A@:?E]k^AmkAmQtG6CJ 82>6 E92E H6VC6 8@??2 A=2J 7C@> 96C6 @? @FE 282:?DE E96 %@C@?E@ |2A=6 {627D :D 8@??2 36 2 92C5\7@F89E 32EE=6 7@C E96 7F== e_ >:?FE6D[Q %F49 D2:5] Q~FC EH@ E62>D 2C6?VE 8@??2 =:<6 6249 @E96C] xEVD E96 H2J :E 8@6D H:E9 C:G2=C:6D 2?5 J@F 5@?VE H2?E E@ =@D6 E@ E96 E62> ?@ >2EE6C H96C6 J@F 2C6 :? E96 DE2?5:?8D] *@F C62==J 5@?VE H2?E E@ =@D6 E@ E96 %@C@?E@ |2A=6 {627D :7 J@FVC6 AFEE:?8 @? 2 qF772=@ $23C6D DH62E6C]Qk^Am kAm(@F=5 92G6 366? ?:46 E@ D66 E92E 766=:?8 :? E96 7:CDE A6C:@5] x? E96 6?5[ E96 92ED C2:?65 5@H? 7@C ~V#6:==JVD 6>AEJ ?6EE6C] (92E 2 D9@E E@ E96 8FE] k^AmkAmQx 5@?VE =:<6 :E[Q #2D>FD s29=:? D2:5 5:D8FDE65=J] Qx 5@?VE =:<6 H96? E92EVD 92AA6?:?8]Qk^Am 0 Comments Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Sabres looking to channel their anger from Leafs fiasco into tussle with Lightning The Lightning have won 11 of their last 12 games over Buffalo. Observations: In OT thriller, Sabres get the final answer over Lightning on Ilya Lyubushkin's goal The Sabres pulled out a 6-5 victory on Ilya Lyubushkin's short-handed breakaway goal at 1:41 of OT – just Buffalo's second win in the last 13 … In wake of Ilya Lyubushkin's historic OT goal, Sabres can move into playoff spot with regulation win over Panthers A regulation win for the Sabres would give them 64 points and move them into a tie with both Florida and Detroit while allowing them to jump o… New Buffalo Sabres COO John Roth knows there's lots of work to be done on the franchise's business side John Roth, the newly hired COO of the Buffalo Sabres and Pegula Sports & Entertainment, spoke to The Buffalo News in an exclusive interview. Sabres planning experiment to make sure their fans get first chance at tickets The Buffalo Sabres hope a new experiment in the stands you might call "the hometown advantage" will give them a much better home-ice advantage… How Tage Thompson's time with Auston Matthews influenced the Sabres star's rise Thompson, who, at 25, is amid his second season playing center in the NHL, sits third in the league with 36 goals. His 71 points through 54 ga… Paul Wieland recalled as merry Sabres prankster whose high jinks made sports fun Tributes from across the sports and journalism worlds poured in last week for Paul Wieland, who served as director of public relations for the… Mike Harrington's NHL power rankings See who holds the No. 1 spot and where the Sabres land this week. Q&A: Sabres captain Kyle Okposo on NHLPA's search for new executive director Kyle Okposo had a seat at the table for a thorough, 10-month-long interview process that will impact the National Hockey League and its stakeh… Inside the NHL: Raise your sticks to the late Paul Wieland, PR head and funny man of Aud-era Sabres "When they made Paul Wieland, trust me when I tell you they threw away the mold," Mike Harrington writes. Sabres, Ryan Johnson plan to discuss future when college season ends Sabres prospect and University of Minnesota defenseman Ryan Johnson will have to decide if he wants to join the organization that drafted him … Making the moment: The story behind Dennis Gilbert's goal against the Sabres What goes into the moment of a hockey life that's already had lots of them? JJ Peterka, Jack Quinn continue to 'learn on the fly' as rookies with the Sabres No one involved with the Sabres expected Peterka and fellow rookie winger Jack Quinn to have a seamless transition to the NHL. Both have made … Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | Omny Studio Recommended for you Watch Now: Related Video Hokies' Grunkemeyer on decision to transfer to Virginia Tech Hokies' Baker on quarterback room Hokies' Baker on quarterback room The NFL Might Be FORCED To Use College Football Refs Next Season The NFL Might Be FORCED To Use College Football Refs Next Season Golf Drama: Players Narrowly Miss Out on Masters Entry Golf Drama: Players Narrowly Miss Out on Masters Entry
Sabres looking to channel their anger from Leafs fiasco into tussle with Lightning The Lightning have won 11 of their last 12 games over Buffalo.
Observations: In OT thriller, Sabres get the final answer over Lightning on Ilya Lyubushkin's goal The Sabres pulled out a 6-5 victory on Ilya Lyubushkin's short-handed breakaway goal at 1:41 of OT – just Buffalo's second win in the last 13 …
In wake of Ilya Lyubushkin's historic OT goal, Sabres can move into playoff spot with regulation win over Panthers A regulation win for the Sabres would give them 64 points and move them into a tie with both Florida and Detroit while allowing them to jump o…
New Buffalo Sabres COO John Roth knows there's lots of work to be done on the franchise's business side John Roth, the newly hired COO of the Buffalo Sabres and Pegula Sports & Entertainment, spoke to The Buffalo News in an exclusive interview.Â
Sabres planning experiment to make sure their fans get first chance at tickets The Buffalo Sabres hope a new experiment in the stands you might call "the hometown advantage" will give them a much better home-ice advantage…
How Tage Thompson's time with Auston Matthews influenced the Sabres star's rise Thompson, who, at 25, is amid his second season playing center in the NHL, sits third in the league with 36 goals. His 71 points through 54 ga…
Paul Wieland recalled as merry Sabres prankster whose high jinks made sports fun Tributes from across the sports and journalism worlds poured in last week for Paul Wieland, who served as director of public relations for the…
Mike Harrington's NHL power rankings See who holds the No. 1 spot and where the Sabres land this week.
Q&A: Sabres captain Kyle Okposo on NHLPA's search for new executive director Kyle Okposo had a seat at the table for a thorough, 10-month-long interview process that will impact the National Hockey League and its stakeh…
Inside the NHL: Raise your sticks to the late Paul Wieland, PR head and funny man of Aud-era Sabres "When they made Paul Wieland, trust me when I tell you they threw away the mold," Mike Harrington writes.
Sabres, Ryan Johnson plan to discuss future when college season ends Sabres prospect and University of Minnesota defenseman Ryan Johnson will have to decide if he wants to join the organization that drafted him …
Making the moment: The story behind Dennis Gilbert's goal against the Sabres What goes into the moment of a hockey life that's already had lots of them?
JJ Peterka, Jack Quinn continue to 'learn on the fly' as rookies with the Sabres No one involved with the Sabres expected Peterka and fellow rookie winger Jack Quinn to have a seamless transition to the NHL. Both have made …