Game Preview: Toronto Maple Leafs @ Buffalo Sabres

Ten out of ten? Frankly, it looks destined to turn out in such a format for the Buffalo Sabres. Winners of the last nine matches with the Toronto Maple Leafs, they have been burning up. The Sabres have won 15 times in 21 games, five straight and earned a point in nine consecutive home showings. Toronto should take comfort in the fact that plenty of squads have had just as tiresome a time trying to solve Buffalo.

With 19 goals in the past five contests, the Sabres have proven that goaltending doesn't have to be their bread and butter every night. Toronto has conceded more than the rest of the Eastern Conference (153 goals) through 44 games. This will get ugly in a hurry if the Maple Leafs don't receive some fine netminding of their own. In clarifying what I stated, Jonas Gustavsson needs to start because Vesa Toskala isn't very steady if you know what I mean.

Ten additional thoughts on the match below.

• Tyler Myers, Jochen Hecht and Clarke MacArthur each scored in a 1:48 span against Tampa Bay, the fastest three-goal outburst in team history. Wasting no time, Buffalo got off to a quick start and held on for a 5-3 victory. This display was in contrast to first periods in the previous few games and the Sabres have to build off of it.
  
• Toronto has outshot Buffalo 151-116 in this year's series yet have been outscored 14-6. You do the math.
  
• Tim Connolly has 11 points in a career-best streak of seven games with at least a point. The oft-injured center appeared to have hip concerns earlier during a long scoring drought. Having competed in every game of 2010, Connolly's presence is among many that have brought Buffalo to 16 games above .500.
• Phil Kessel is drying up alarmingly with one goal in ten games. The former Bruin is minus-five this year when the Sabres are in front of him with nothing to show on the score sheet. Niklas Hagman is in a rut too with one goal in 12 matches.
  
• Craig Rivet, Chris Butler and Adam Mair are the remaining regulars in search of their first goal for Buffalo this year. Rivet got caught flat-footed by Victor Hedman Wednesday and the Swede went on to beat Ryan Miller in a 2-on-1 situation. Maybe that zero in the goal column gave him a thought of pinching in for a second.
  
• The last time these two teams met, Nikolai Kulemin was back checking and getting physical along the boards. This kid throwing his weight around makes the defenseman's job extra aggravating and he's earning head coach Ron Wilson's trust.
• Patrick Lalime is one win away from 200 in his career and he will probably get his chance tomorrow when the Sabres host Colorado. Only 65 netminders have achieved such a feat and Lalime is 3-0-1 in his last four appearances with just five shots getting past him. Best of luck Patty.
• Patrick Kaleta is sneaking his way back from a leg injury but Lindy Ruff will be patient in re-inserting him into the line-up as the team is winning aplenty. Mike Van Ryn, Mikhail Grabovski, Carl Gunnarsson, Mike Komisarek and Wayne Primeau are all ailing for Toronto.
  
• Derek Roy is on the third line as a winger centered by Paul Gaustad and Drew Stafford on the right side. To my recollection, I don't believe I've ever seen Roy utilized in this type of role. Perhaps it's a means of getting Thomas Vanek to put pucks in the back of the net as he's on the first unit with Tim Kennedy and Mike Grier.
  
• Toronto has lost 16 of the 22 matches they've fallen behind 2-0 in. Buffalo is 16-0 when leading after two periods and 13-1-4 in games decided by a single strike. Those are some free tips for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Murphy's law claims 'Anything that can go wrong will go wrong'. That summarizes Toronto's outcomes with Buffalo in the previous nine pairings. As depressing as it may sound, all the Maple Leafs can do is continue to play to their strengths and hope for better results.