Fogel's Double Leads Toronto Past Buffalo in Wild 5-4 Shootout! 05-29-2026
TORONTO — Fans barely had time to settle into their seats before the fireworks started.
Just 32 seconds into the game, Toronto's Mason George stunned Buffalo by converting an unassisted chance to open the scoring. It was only the beginning of a back-and-forth first period that featured five goals and enough momentum swings to make coaches reach for the aspirin.
Buffalo answered through Caleb Townsend, who buried his sixth of the season midway through the opening frame. The visitors then grabbed their first lead when Lanny McDowell finished off a setup from Waylon Nelson and Toby Johnston to make it 2-1.
The advantage lasted all of 37 seconds.
Toronto sniper Joey Fogel continued his hot streak, wiring home his 14th goal of the season to tie things up again. Buffalo refused to back down, however, as Joen Lundgren netted his team-leading 20th goal late in the period, sending the Sabres into intermission with a 3-2 lead despite being outshot.
The second period belonged entirely to Toronto.
Fogel struck again less than three minutes into the frame, finishing a beautiful passing sequence from Rowan Anderson and Mathieu Belanger to knot the game at 3-3. The equalizer ignited a surge from the home side, who controlled possession and peppered Buffalo goaltender Clairfait Lee throughout the middle stanza.
At 10:38, Jason Robertson gave Toronto its first lead since the opening minute, finishing a setup from Nathan Atkins and Luc Cantin. Later in the period, Roman Ward added valuable insurance, converting another Atkins feed to extend the lead to 5-3.
Buffalo wasn't done yet.
Just 1:42 into the third period, the Sabres capitalized on a power-play opportunity when Andrew Walker blasted home his 11th goal of the season. Assisted by Randy Stevens and Johnston, the goal cut the deficit to one and set up a tense finish.
The Sabres pushed relentlessly over the final 18 minutes, generating several quality chances and forcing Toronto to tighten defensively. Toronto netminder Diodore Cayer turned aside 21 shots before giving way late in the second period, while backup Cohen Rose was perfect in relief, stopping all 12 shots he faced to preserve the victory.
Despite Buffalo's comeback effort, Toronto slammed the door shut and escaped with a crucial 5-4 win.
Fogel's two-goal performance earned him First Star honors, while Anderson's two-assist night and Ward's game-winning tally rounded out the star selections.
For Buffalo, Johnston quietly recorded a pair of assists, while Lundgren reached the 20-goal mark on the season in a losing effort.
The victory improves Toronto to 26-18-6, strengthening its hold near the top of the Eastern Conference standings. Buffalo falls to 22-24-4, left to wonder what might have been after surrendering a first-period lead and watching Toronto dominate the decisive middle frame.