Kirill Marchenko hat trick not enough as Maple Leafs lose to Sabres in OT
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That’s the Kirill Marchenko that the Maple Leafs figured they were getting in a trade with Columbus at the end of September.
The talented winger put all of his offensive gifts on display on Thursday night at Scotiabank Arena, recording a hat trick against the Buffalo Sabres.
For the Leafs, though, there was not much celebrating following Marchenko’s milestone night.
Despite his breakout performance, the Leafs could not hold a two-goal lead in the third-period lead and lost 5-4 in overtime against a hungrier Sabres team.
Owen Power beat Sergei Bobrovsky with a snapshot at 3:44 of the extra period.
The Sabres scored twice in the third period to erase a two-goal deficit, tying the game 4-4 at 12:16 when defenceman Mattias Samuelsson fired a shot over the right shoulder of Bobrovsky.
Dennis Gilbert got the Sabres to within one when his point shot eluded a screened Bobrovsky at 10:05.
Along the way, the Leafs lost John Tavares to injury early in the third period when he had an awkward collision with the Sabres’ Josh Norris.
Coach Jim Hiller had no update on Tavares after the game.
Gavin McKenna, meanwhile, didn’t have a shift after the midway point of the second period. More on that in a minute.
Three takeaways from the loss that put the Leafs at 3-3-2 through eight games:
MARCHENKO SHINES
As much as Marchenko is to be lauded for his burst of production, he took blame for the winning goal and that’s what was bothering him post game.
“I will remember this night for sure, but it’s bad when lose the game, and winning is more important,” Marchenko said. “I get frustrated too because it’s my mistake in overtime. Good goals, but I want to win games more. Just learn from that.
“Power was my guy, and he just jumped by me and scored the goal.
In his 300th game in the National Hockey League, Marchenko, acquired from the Blue Jackets in a major swap that sent Matthew Knies to Ohio, toyed with the Sabres.
At 13:10 of the first period, the 26-year-old drew gasps from the crowd when he took a pass from Tavares during a power play, went between his legs and put the puck over goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s left shoulder.
A quick snapshot by Marchenko after Tavares did the dirty work along the boards gave the Leafs a 3-2 lead at 11:13 of the second period.
Marchenko completed his fifth hat trick in the NHL at 16:51 of the second when he cruised to the front of the net and deposited a Colton Sissons feed past Luukkonen.
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The three goals came after Marchenko — signed to a six-year extension with an average annual value of $12.5 million US by the Leafs — scored one goal in his first seven games with Toronto.
After the morning skate on Thursday, Marchenko said he could “play better for sure.” Hours later, he answered his own bell.
Leafs captain Auston Matthews continued his hot start when he opened the scoring at 2:24 of the first, jumping at the blue line to keep the puck in before taking a pass from Jack Roslovic. Matthews now has six goals in eight games to open the 2026-27 season.
Jack Quinn scored two goals for Buffalo.
WHY DID MCKENNA RIDE THE PINE?
Hiller’s explanation for benching McKenna didn’t make complete sense.
McKenna was minus-1 in six minutes 36 seconds of ice time before he took a seat in the second period and didn’t touch the ice again.
“That was my decision,” Hiller said. “We had those penalties (two minors in the final 5 1/2 minutes of the second period).
“I wanted to get him out there. He sat through those penalties, and then I didn’t get him out there and in the last few minutes of the period, we’re just trying to get out of the period.
“Now, as I’ve sat him for so long, and he sits in the intermission, so I probably should have got him out there early in the third. I didn’t, so I’ll talk to him about that.”
No argument here. Hiller could have put McKenna on the ice early in the third. At that point, the outcome did not seem in danger as the Leafs were up by two goals.
There was no reason to keep McKenna glued to the bench.
What did Hiller think of McKenna’s game?
“It was OK, it was fine,” Hiller said. “Again, the big thing is the penalties. He doesn’t get to play. He hasn’t played for 30 some-odd minutes. We talk about getting him out in the third, and it just didn’t happen. That’s on me.”
Media requests to speak to McKenna after the game were denied by the Leafs.
Hiller said he would talk to McKenna. Let’s hope his explanation makes a little more sense to the kid.
WHY THE THIRD-PERIOD BREAKDOWNS?
The Leafs will be in trouble for as long as veteran Chris Tanev is out and the third period exposed the defensive issues that plague the club.
Buffalo outshot the Leafs 11-4 in the final 20 minutes of regulation and the home side couldn’t handle the pressure that the Sabres brought. It was an ugly look for the Leafs.
“I thought it was with the 11-,12-minute mark,” Hiller said. “They just started coming and we didn’t have an answer. We made some mistakes.
“In those moments, I know it’s hard when you’re on your heels, but you just have to be able to have a little poise and somebody to make a play. Give them credit. They put us on our heels, and we just couldn’t make two plays in a row. Consequently, we got what we got.”
This is a Leafs team that has a group of experienced veteran who should be able to find a away. Too many times last season that didn’t happen, and we got a reminder on Thursday night.
“You either win or you have a lesson to learn and get better,” Bobrovsky said. “I think it was a good lesson for us. We give up lots of chances at five on five, and I think it can be cleaned up.
“We have a really good team here, really skilled, really competitive guys. We give up a little too much in the third, but it’s hockey. They have a good team too and they had a good push.”
Newsflash for Bobrovsky: Your teammates are what they are. The chances are good it won’t get much better, at least not consistently, in the defensive zone.
Said Matthews: “I think it’s all five guys. The forwards I think need to do a better job of supporting our D in all areas of the defensive zone, and making sure that we’re on the same page down there.”
What, Leafs, are you waiting for then?
X: @koshtorontosun
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