Toronto Maple Leafs Joffrey Lupul, left, and Tyler Bozak, right, celebrate a goal by Josh Leivo, center, against the Buffalo Sabres during the third period of an NHL hockey preseason game, Friday, Sept. 26, 2014, in Buffalo, N.Y. Toronto won 6-4.Gary Wiepert/The Associated Press
Tyler Bozak shook off the rust quickly, scoring a goal and adding two assists in his pre-season debut.
Bozak helped the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Buffalo Sabres 6-4 Friday night at First Niagara Center but more importantly didn't show many ill effects from a lower-body injury that forced him to miss the start of training camp. Defenceman Henrik Tallinder left the game with a left shoulder injury that could damage his chances of making the team off a tryout.
Along with right-winger David Clarkson, Bozak was injured as part of informal pre-training camp workouts. The two forwards began practising with the Leafs earlier this week before finally getting into a game in Buffalo.
Bozak set up goals by Roman Polak and captain Dion Phaneuf and scored his own on a pretty give-and-go with winger Josh Leivo. Clarkson scored on a tip in front, and Leo Komarov and Leivo each had a goal for the Leafs on a night Sabres goaltender Michal Neuvirth struggled.
Clarkson got banged up in a fight with Cody McCormick in the third period and did not return. The team said it was for precautionary reasons.
Goaltender James Reimer allowed two goals to Chris Stewart and one each to Jake McCabe and McCormick in his first full game of the pre-season. Reimer finished with 32 saves.
As Toronto looks for depth on the blue-line, Tallinder's chances of making the team were dealt a serious blow when he went shoulder-first into the boards on a hit from former Sabres teammate Mike Weber, who also landed on top of him. He did not return.
If the 35-year-old Tallinder misses any significant time and can't earn a roster spot, Toronto would likely look to someone like Stuart Percy or Korbinian Holzer to be the seventh defenceman. The uncertain status of right-handed Stephane Robidas (broken leg in last year's playoffs) could also throw off the Leafs' plans.
At forward, Toronto has extra bodies and at least a couple of players on one-way contracts who will go to the minors. Down the middle, there's competition behind Bozak and Nazem Kadri between Peter Holland, Petri Kontiola and Mike Santorelli, who can also play the wing.
Having Bozak helps the picture come together. On Friday night he made a couple of nifty plays in the offensive zone but also turned the puck over to lead to one of Stewart's goals.
In addition to his goal, Phaneuf fought Drew Stafford and had a secondary assist on Leivo's power-play goal.
Polak, a stay-at-home defenceman the Leafs got from the St. Louis Blues, finished with a goal and two assists. Leivo also had a three-point night.
Notes: The Leafs put forwards Trevor Smith and Spencer Abbott and defenceman Kevin Marshall on waivers on Friday with the intention of sending them to camp with the AHL's Toronto Marlies. ... Frederik Gauthier hasn't played this pre-season because of a cracked rib, according to coach Randy Carlyle. Gauthier was the Leafs' first-round pick in 2013. ... With the win, the Leafs improved to 3-1-1 in exhibition action. They host the Sabres at Air Canada Centre on Sunday.