[open thread] Sabres vs. Leafs

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Final Score

After a really big win that put Buffalo in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, the Sabres return home to play against their cross border rival the Toronto Maple Leafs.  A win tonight will help the Sabres move up in the Standings and would continue their current hot streak.  It is unclear if Tim Connolly will be in the lineup tonight although I had previously heard that he would not play in back to back games.

With less than two months remaining in the season this is only the fourth meeting between the Sabres and Leafs despite the fact that they play eight times this season.  I think we better get used to seeing the Leafs because it is going to happen a lot over the next two months.  The Leafs have won two of the three meetings this season between the two teams including a 3-0 victory in Buffalo back on November 9.

As is the case with all of our game day threads we are looking for people to come in and chat with us about the game.  All you need to join us is an opinion and an account.  Get an account for free and start chatting with us.

Here are a couple of previews to check out about the game

NHL.com Preview (National Perspective)
Pension Plan Puppets (A fellow SB Nation blog about the Toronto Maple Leafs)

Buffalo Leaders

Goals:Derek Roy 21
Assists:Brian Campbell 37
Points:Jason Pominville 51
Plus/minus:Daniel Paille +12
PIM:Andrew Peters 75

Leafs Leaders

Goals:Mats Sundin 23
Assists:Mats Sundin 35
Points:Mats Sundin 58
Plus/minus:Mats Sundin +9
PIM:Nik Antropov 78

Projected Sabres lines

MacArthur-Hecht-Pominville
Vanek-Roy-Connolly
Paille-Gaustad-Kotalik
Ryan-Mair-Kaleta

Tallinder-Lydman
Spacek-Campbell
Kalinin-Pratt