Elevate your local knowledge

Sign up for the iNFOnews newsletter today!

Select Region

Selecting your primary region ensures you get the stories that matter to you first.

Dahlin’s first hat trick leads Buffalo Sabres over slumping Toronto Maple Leafs 7-4

Dahlin's first hat trick leads Buffalo Sabres over slumping Toronto Maple Leafs 7-4 | iNFOnews.ca
Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin (centre) celebrates his goal with Tyson Kozak (48) as Maple Leafs winger Nick Robertson (89) looks on in Toronto on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

TORONTO — Rasmus Dahlin registered the first hat trick of his NHL career to go along with two assists as the Buffalo Sabres heaped more misery on the Toronto Maple Leafs in a 7-4 victory Tuesday.

Tage Thompson, with a goal and an assist in his 500th NHL game, Josh Doan, Alex Tuch and Jack Quinn provided the rest of the offence for Buffalo (30-17-5), which has won four straight.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen allowed two goals on five shots before leaving with a lower-body injury in the first period. Colten Ellis made 16 saves in relief to get the win. Mattias Samuelsson added three assists.

Auston Matthews and Max Domi each had a goal and two assists for Toronto (24-20-9). Bobby McMann, with a goal and an assist, and Matthew Knies also scored. Joseph Woll stopped 24 shots.

The Maple Leafs came home last week off a successful road trip, but finished their disastrous five-game homestand with a solitary point (0-4-1) and have dropped seven of eight overall (1-5-2) to tumble down the Eastern Conference standings.

The club entered play six points back of the second wild-card spot and are now eight adrift of the Sabres in the Atlantic Division.

TAKEAWAYS

Maple Leafs: Darryl Sittler was honoured before puck drop in a ceremony marking 50 years since he set an NHL record by registering 10 points in a game. The former Toronto captain had six goals and four assists in an 11-4 victory over the Boston Bruins on Feb. 7, 1976.

Sabres: Doan scored his first goal since signing a seven-year contract extension. Doan’s father, Shane, is a special adviser to Toronto general manager Brad Treliving.

KEY MOMENT

Dahlin scored the go-ahead goal when the Buffalo captain found himself in front of Woll off a cycle before tipping a point shot from Samuelsson — his defenceman partner — late in the second period for a 4-3 lead.

KEY STAT

The Sabres have an NHL-best 19-3-1 record since Dec. 9.

UP NEXT

Sabres: Host the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday.

Maple Leafs: Visit the Seattle Kraken on Thursday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 27, 2026.

Dahlin's first hat trick leads Buffalo Sabres over slumping Toronto Maple Leafs 7-4 | iNFOnews.ca
Buffalo Sabres defenceman Mattias Samuelsson (23) hits Maple Leafs centre John Tavares (91) in Toronto on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
Dahlin's first hat trick leads Buffalo Sabres over slumping Toronto Maple Leafs 7-4 | iNFOnews.ca
Buffalo Sabres goaltender Colten Ellis (92) makes a save as Maple Leafs winger Matthew Knies (23) looks for the rebound in Toronto on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

News from © The Canadian Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

Create a free account

The Canadian Press

Joshua Clipperton

The Canadian Press is Canada's trusted news source and leader in providing real-time, bilingual multimedia stories across print, broadcast and digital platforms.

Related Articles