TORONTO, March 22 (UPI) -- Robert Svehla scored the tying goal in the third period and fellow defenseman Bryan McCabe got the game-winner 36 seconds into overtime Saturday night as the Toronto Maple Leafs rallied for a 3-2 triumph over the Buffalo Sabres.
It was Toronto's league-leading ninth win when trailing after two periods (9-20-2).
After taking an early lead, the Maple Leafs surrendered two second-period tallies. Unbeaten in the last 10 home meetings with the Sabres, Toronto knotted it 7 1/2 minutes into the third when Svehla drifted to the high slot and one-timed Mikael Renberg's feed past goaltender Mika Noronen.
In overtime, Leafs captain Mats Sundin outbattled defenseman Rhett Warrener along the left boards and dished to McCabe, who blasted a shot from the right faceoff circle by Noronen for his fifth goal.
Sundin collected a goal and two assists for the Leafs, who pulled within four points of fourth-place Philadelphia in the race for home-ice advantage in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Defenseman James Patrick and J.P. Dumont tallied for the Sabres, who have lost five of their last six games.
After watching their Montreal counterparts jeer the United States national anthem Thursday in protest of the country's military involvement in Iraq, fans at the Air Canada Centre responded with a standing ovation after "The Star-Spangled Banner" was performed.
