Kirill Marchenko hat trick not enough as Maple Leafs lose to Sabres in OT

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.

Despite Marchenko’s breakout performance, however, the Leafs could not hold a third-period lead and lost 5-4 in overtime.

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.

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 John 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.

The Leafs lost Tavares early in third period after he had an awkward collision with the Sabres’ Josh Norris. Tavares eventually needed help to get to the dressing room and did not return.

Gavin McKenna, meanwhile, didn’t have a shift after the midway point of the second period.

The offensive outburst 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 and added two assists for Buffalo.

Bobrovsky finished with 29 saves.

tkoshan@postmedia.com

X: @koshtorontosun

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